Finding God in Metaphors and Stories
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ~Psalm 119:105
A metaphor is a figure of speech that implicitly compares two unrelated things, typically by stating that one thing is another (e.g., “God is the omnipotent clockmaker”). Metaphors and stories are creative ways to express how we see the world. We use these forms of speech to envision new ways of being, doing, and speaking.
People use metaphors to represent something else, especially something abstract. Stories offer insights into the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual context of the speaker’s life. In our relationships with spiritual direction clients, we listen with the ears of the Holy Spirit, paying attention to the words people use to describe God, prayer, and the challenges and graces they encounter in their lives.
In this session, we will learn how to listen for the metaphors and stories that our clients use as they talk about their spiritual journey. In group conversations, we will consider ways to help our clients discover the metaphors we hear when they talk about their relationship with God. We will also consider how to help our clients examine and potentially reconstruct stories that may no longer be life-affirming.
This Zoom presentation will include an opportunity for questions and discussion. You will receive resources to guide you in your use of the material presented. Guided by Linda Mastro.
This is a virtual program, open to all spiritual directors. A Zoom Meeting link will be emailed to registered participants by Friday, November 21, 2025. When registering, please be sure to include the correct email address to which the Zoom link should be sent.
Linda Mastro is a graduate of the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute in Marriottsville, Maryland, where she now serves as a faculty member. In addition to being an Associate of Bon Secours, Linda is a spiritual companion for individuals and groups and brings a spirit of compassion and light-heartedness to her work as a women’s retreat facilitator, pilgrimage leader, and workshop guide. Linda is co-author of the book Petite Retreats: Renewing Body, Mind, and Spirit Without Leaving Home. Learn more about Linda and her ministry at livingpilgrimage.com.