Transformation Story: Monique Keffer and the Freedom of the Spirit
Here at Sacred Ground, we’ve witnessed the transformative power that our Spiritual Direction Formation and Training Program has had on students and faculty alike, both as directors and as people. Yet each of their stories is unique—God has used the program to meet people in radically different ways. It’s anything but formulaic! In our Transformation Story series, we’re sharing these narratives with you.
Today, we’re hearing from spiritual director Monique Keffer as she shares her story with us in her own words.
If I had to describe my certification process at Sacred Ground in one word, it would be freedom.
I am a spiritual director with a background in higher education. When I began my journey with Sacred Ground twenty-two years ago, I was an English professor at a university deeply rooted in the Christian faith. While I loved teaching, I discovered an equally powerful calling during office hours. Sitting with students, I listened to their hopes and explored their visions for what poet Mary Oliver would call their “one wild and precious life.” This deep listening revealed a new vocation: to hold space for others and accompany them as we look for glimpses of God.
As a new student in the Formation Program at Sacred Ground, my mindset was “achieve, achieve, achieve,” with no thought to what was actually fulfilling. But the process encouraged me to slow down and be gentle with myself as I explored what was in my heart. I realized this experience wasn’t about fitting into a box but shaping my own unique container. I learned that God wanted more from me, or you could say, God wanted me from me.
The immersion into Ignatian Spirituality became the impetus for my ongoing unfolding. For example, practicing the Daily Examen and completing the Spiritual Exercises opened my eyes to see God in major transitions and ordinary moments alike. During the Exercises, I had a dream that Jesus appeared to me and said, "There is so much inside of you to live out. Pay attention." I awoke with the feeling of openness and a sense of freedom about my future.
Over time, I’ve learned to hold both pain and joy lightly. This inner shift directly shapes how I sit with directees; having explored my own twists and turns, I can be fully present for theirs. Learning to live with open hands through ongoing discernment has brought profound healing, allowing me to show up as what Henri Nouwen would call a “wounded healer.” In that space, I can resist the urge to rush to solve problems with quick fixes, as I practice being patient while awaiting God’s nudges. I seek to listen deeply and mirror back to others that they are enough—just as Sacred Ground taught me that I am enough.
Thank you, Monique for sharing your story with us! If you’d like more information about Sacred Ground’s Spiritual Direction Formation and Training Program, please join us at our upcoming online open house on June 15th. Bring your questions! Click here to register and learn more.