The Examen

We missed Greer this week, but Carol did a fine job holding down the fort by herself--with the help of a wonderful discussion by the class, of course.

She introduced The Examen to us, which is an old "tradition within the church of reviewing the day and reflecting on that which has not brought wholeness."

A little history is that it is actually called The Examen of Consciousness and comes from the Jesuit (or, Society of Jesus) tradition founded by St Ignatius of Loyola in the sixteenth century.

Examining the Examen

The Examen has no formal rules, per se, but it is recommended to be done twice each day. Additionally, there are five basic guidlines:

1. Recall/acknowledge that you are in the presence of God. You are creature, surrounded by creation, in the presence of the Creator. Feel the presence of God around you and within you. Reflect on the creating, sustaining, redeeming, and re-creating presence of God.
2. Think back on your day with gratitude. In you is the Breath of Life, the holy ruach (Hebrew for wind, breath, spirit) that gives life to your body and you soul. Be thankful for for this, but also look for specific things from the day. Think of the small and simple things that often go overlooked as we await the next big thing. Remember the aroma of your morning coffee, the look on your child's face in the morning when s/he first sees you. Recall the person who smiled at you, who held the door for you, who prepared a meal for you, who helped you with a project, who said a nice word to you. And reflect on the grace that has allowed you to extend an act of kindness to another.
3. Ask the Spirit to enter you and help you to honestly examine your day. This is not an exercise meant to beat yourself up. After all, it is possible that, through the grace of God, you have been pretty faithful. At any rate, though, this is a time for growth, a time to learn from mistakes, a time to become more conscious of God's presence in our lives. Be grateful for the good done, but be mindful of the wrongs. Reflect on the context: who was around, what time of day was it, what as happening at the time? Also, try to recall your thoughts: did the act occur in an instant, or was there premeditation involved? Were you conflicted as to what to do? If so, where did the conflict lie? Be challenged, but also be encouraged and learn how to be more faithful to the God that is Love.
4. With those things that have not brought wholeness in mind, ask for forgiveness. Be honest with yourself and with God. Be aware of God's loving and redeeming presence even in our sinfulness. As Brother Will Campbell summarizes the gospel: We're all bastards, but God loves us anyway. Be grateful for that love, a love not only because of, but also in spite of.
5. Now, offer yourself to God again. This is a time to reflect on your status as one created in the image of God, as a Christ-follower, as one filled with the Spirit. Ask for the gift of sight, that you will be better able to see opportunities for the good, to see the needs of our neighbors, whether at home or at work or at church or on the street corner or on the other side of the Earth. Ask for the gift of discernment, that you may be better able to make wise and loving choices. Ask for the gift of love, so that love will guide all that you do.
6. Close, if you like (you don't have to), with the Lord's Prayer.

Thank you Carol, for reminding us of this venerable tradition of the church, one of the traditions of the Catholic Church we Protestants left in what is we like to call the Reformation, but which could also be called the Second Great Schism, the first having split the church into East (Greek/Orthodox) and West (Latin/Catholic). There are many such traditions out there still. May we learn from our Roman Catholic sisters and brothers some of these ancient ways.