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How do you encounter the mystery of the other? This is the central question at the heart of spiritual direction and central to the human quest. Hineni—presence—is not an answer to the mystery but a response to the challenge. At a time when people on the edges of religion increasingly seek out spiritual direction as a way of confronting life’s unanswerable questions, hineni indicates a fundamental reality beyond labels. And in an age that seems to suffer from disconnection, hineni indicates a way in.
A helpful resource for anyone interested in spirituality beyond easy answers or (in)convenient labels, Hineni: In Imitation of Abraham is a stark exploration of what it truly means to be present—to yourself, to the one before you, and to the one we call God.
Alisa Kasmir is a native New Yorker who lived in Chicago and London before settling in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. There, often with the help of her Labrador Pippa, she has long practiced spiritual companioning with individuals, groups, and at a senior rehab facility. Alisa holds a degree in spiritual direction from the Titus Brandsma Institute in Nijmegen and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University. Alisa was a classical singer and is the mother of two nearly grown sons.
