Examen Reflection

[pic] The Examen of Consciousness
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-------------------------------------------------------------- My day is the place where I meet God moment to moment. My day is also the
place where I fail to meet God moment to moment. God is continually
revealed to me in the places, events, and people of my day. So it seems
rather important to look at each day in which my commitment to God finds,
or fails to find, its expression. My day is the place where I respond, or don't, to the calls to love and
service of those around me. My day is where God is moment to moment
exercising God's loving providence over me. My day is where I allow, or
don't, God to work within me. How can I grow in an awareness of and
sensitivity to God working in my own life? To answer that question it
seems natural to take time to look back over the day when I have leisure to
do so. Not just to look back in general terms, but to look back seeking to
find where God has been active for me in my life today. Reflection is a key practice of Christian spirituality. Without reflecting
on my life, where I have been, where I am, where I am going, I would be
ignorant of the presence of God working within me. The Examen is a short
Ignatian exercise that can lead to greater awareness of myself, and the
Spirit moving in and around me. By doing this exercise often, I can become
more aware of the specific ways God is present with me in each day. There
are five traditional stages of the Examen, which can be adapted so as to
best meet my needs. To prepare for the Examen, I find a place that is quiet and preferably
secluded. I take a few minutes to sit in silence. It is important that I
let go of the things that are distracting me: schedules, tension, fears,
anxiety, etc. and allow these things to be laid at the feet of my Lord.
While breathing deeply I ask God to open my mind and heart to this exercise
that I would be able to sense the Spirit moving in my day(s). Though the
Examen was created as a daily exercise, it can be adapted to reflect on
general periods of time (my summer, my week, the time spent at my job,
etc.) 1. Thanksgiving- Foster an attitude of thanksgiving: there is nothing
that has not been given to me. I am on the receiving end of the gift.
I myself am God's greatest gift to me- I am the gift by which I can
know every other gift. Spend time reflecting on the need for
gratitude, to see the blessings that have been given to me. Then I
take time to let God know what I am indeed grateful for.
2. Insight- Ask the Spirit to give me light and insight in revealing what
the Spirit wants me to see. I am not interested in my analysis of the
day (or time period) or what I think is most important. I want to be
open to see the people and places where God has worked in my day that
may be hidden to me. When looking for insight, remember that the
Examen is positive, it is not meant to be something that pokes at
insecurities and fears. God always encourages, God does not
discourage.
3. Examination- Play back the day (or time period) so that I can find God
in every detail. Remember all the places I went, what I did, and the
people I was with (places, occupations, people). Ask God to show me
where God was present in me and others. To say that God is everywhere
may be true, but it is not helpful here. Where do I notice the
effects of the Spirit moving within me? Where have I seen the fruit
of the Spirit growing (Gal. 5:22)? Where I have been able to open
myself to the work of the Spirit, I give deep thanks. Where I have
closed myself to those gifts, I ask for sorrow and express repentance
in a way that does not dwell on guilt, but that seeks active
reconciliation.
4. Deepening- I ask the Lord to deepen the gifts of sorrow and gratitude
within me. I beg the Lord to deepen my awareness of not allowing God
to work for me in the gifts of the Spirit, or of not allowing the
Spirit to work through me for another, or through another for me. I
praise God for the times that I did allow the Spirit to work, or when
I co-operated with the gifts of the Spirit. 5. Guidance- Looking ahead at the next day (or specified time period), I
look at what help I will need to be more present, to be more caring,
to be more patient, and faithful. Think about what situations I may
be in, which people I will be with, where the places I will be, and
the occupations I will partake in. Where will I need to be developing
the gifts of the Spirit? I ask God to guide me in this process, to
prepare me to see the Spirit at work and to be willing to move with
the Spirit in each new moment. I ask that I may be fully present in
each moment, aware of the God-with-us. I end with thanking God for
revealing these things to me, and commit to seeking God's presence
throughout the next day. The Examen can be used to foster a greater sensitivity to God, and the
newness and opportunity involved in each moment. It allows me to be more
mindful of the work of the Spirit, not just in the extraordinary, but in
the mundane; both in the busyness and the stillness of life. St. Ignatius
Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, was especially keen on this prayer of
reflection. For the Jesuits, he insisted on two 15-minute periods of the
Examen each day. In this prayer, Ignatius is essentially saying, "If you
want to serve Christ, and live a more Christ-like life, then reflect on how
your day has been, and let the experience of the day teach you what it
will." Some guided questions that can be helpful for reflection throughout the
Examen: * How was I drawn to God today: a friend, an event, a book, the beauty
of nature?
* Have I learnt anything about God and God's ways: in ordinary
occasions, spare moments?
* Did I meet God in: fears, joys, work, misunderstandings, weariness,
and suffering?
* Did God's Word come alive in: prayer, meditation, scriptures, or
liturgy?
* Did I bring Christ to my community? Did my community bring Christ to
me?
* Have I been a sign of God's presence and love to the people I met
today (yesterday)?
* Did I go out to: the lonely, the sorrowful, the discouraged, and the
needy?
* Is there some part of my life still untouched by Jesus Christ and
where he is calling me to a change of heart or action? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Material edited and adapted by Keith Jones Pomeroy from Fr. David
Townshend's article "A Christian Review in the Lord of a Busy Day, or The
Examen of Consciousness."