“Man is created
to praise, reverence and serve God our Lord, and by this means save his soul.
And the other things on the face of the earth are created for man that they
might help him in prosecuting the end for which he is created.”[1]
I must confess that when it comes to the Catholic Church I am heavily
biased. The Catholic Church and I had a bad break up when I was thirteen and we
have been estranged ever since. We just haven’t figured out a way to remain
friends. I attended a Jesuit high school and college and learned a lot about
Ignatius. Ambivalence is the best word to describe my approach to Ignatian
spirituality then and now. As I Protestant I cannot overlook the fact that the
Jesuit order was brought into existence to counter the Protestant Reformation.
Protestants were viewed as heretics and enemies and even today much military
language remains in its charter. However, I have deep respect for Ignatius’
commitment to living simply and caring for the poor. And surprisingly I’ve
found the daily examen, when it is adapted for our modern context, to be a very
helpful tool in deepening one’s spirituality and tending to the soul.
For me the daily examen is not
about focusing on sin or trying to overcome some fault; it’s about awareness
and cultivating the capacity to look inward. This is so badly needed in our
world today which often finds us always on the go and masking our dissatisfaction
with activities on our calendars. The daily examen provides opportunity to
pause, reflect and take in the day. To discern what has brought joy and what
has not; to learn to see in such a way that is impossible unless one is still
and silent even if for only a few moments. The examen is grounded within the
Christian tradition, but has been adapted to speak to non-Christians as well. I
believe it can be just as enriching to those outside theistic traditions.
The adaptations I am most drawn to are the ones that center on
gratitude. The language of gratitude provides a framework for self-examination
that is gentle, grace-filled and forgiving. This language speaks to theists and
non-theists alike. This is very important to me as I don’t believe that
spirituality only belongs to those who believe in God. I was led through one
such adaptation of the examen. The actions were simple, but moving. Simply
sitting still, breathing intentionally, placing my hand over my heart while
bringing to mind what I was most grateful for during the day, brought me to a
different place. And when I brought to mind what I was least grateful for I was
able to face a difficult aspect of myself with much grace. I imagine doing this
every day would lead to a blossoming of awareness, discernment, self-compassion
and compassion for others as well.
Whether you are Catholic, a biased Protestant like me, or of a different
faith or of no faith altogether, I invite you to try on the daily examen for
yourself. Find an adaptation that speaks most clearly to your heart. Give it
time and stick with the practice for a while. I believe you will soon find it
to be a necessary component to furthering the spiritual journey of tending to
the soul and living life well.
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