Today I experienced work as a spiritual practice.
I'm glad I've decided to shift to half time at school and to be more physically present at my work (the past year has been full of hours and hours of working after 'normal' hours - which is all well and good except for those for whom that pattern of working is difficult to comprehend.)
Being 'at work' today felt grounded in hope.
January 8, 2010
January 7, 2010
Being - day three
Well - I'm going to give praying the examen before each meal another shot tomorrow. One of the things I realized today is that I need more of a routine. (Especially on days that the kids are home from school due to snow!) So I'm setting a series of alarms in my phone to keep me on track tomorrow.
This is what seemed to make sense...
2. Review with gratitude.
3. Awareness of emotions.
4. Choose one thing to focus on.
5. Look forward to the coming events.OK - off to sleep so I can rise with purpose.
January 6, 2010
Being - revisited
Yesterday I posted some info on the Examen. I really like the way it becomes sort of a 'reverse' planning process - reviewing the day and then praying some element from the review and then looking toward tomorrow. It felt sort of 'natural' for me.
Tomorrow I'm going to try praying some form of the Examen before each meal - I'm wondering if reviewing a portion of the day (rather than the whole day) will feel significantly different. I'm also wondering if intentionally practicing more immediate feedback and gratitude will help me develop more of a sense of God at work in all things (not just in hindsight, but also in the midst of the living.)
For example, I would revise the way I pray the Examen something like this before breakfast:
1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the waking hour(s) with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Choose one feature of the morning and pray from it.
5. Look toward the activity of the morning before lunch.
More tomorrow...
January 5, 2010
Being
This week I'm gathering resources and deciding where to begin. I'm thinking I'll start with the daily Examen:
I'll let you know how this 'fits'.
Have you ever used this (or something similar) as a framework for prayer?
This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.
1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.
I'll let you know how this 'fits'.
Have you ever used this (or something similar) as a framework for prayer?
January 4, 2010
Connecting
Today I was not very 'connected' to the world outside of my house and church. I had a few appointments and some busywork to deal with and just didn't spend much time on the computer or phone. I observed a couple of things:
1) other than the virtual 'stack' of emails in my endbox at day's end, I didn't miss anything of an urgent nature.
2) I did miss the somewhat regular interaction I normally have with some friends through a youth ministry forum I participate in and through Twitter (never EVER thought I'd say that about Twitter!)
My closest peer relationships happen online. Some of these relationships began around 8 years ago when I lived in Colorado. Many of the PC(USA) relationships that I have outside of my congregation, have developed from online communities. These relationships enrich my life. (And these relationships are definitely not 'less than' in any way.) Because these relationships happen in an online context, I am actually able to stay more regularly connected than not. Many of these online interactions naturally evolved into telephone conversations and face-to-face meetings. Without the initial online connection - I'd have never have had the opportunity to connect with some people I now count as close friends.
From a Living 2010 perspective, I'm thinking that being connected with a wide variety of people and with many streams of thought is becoming more of the norm. It will be interesting to see how technology allows us to both stay connected while simultaneously freeing us from staying hard-wired into any one mode of connecting. For me, multiple (nearly simultaneous) modes of connecting seem to work. Wondering how technology might enhance that potential connectivity.
Connecting.
Interesting.
1) other than the virtual 'stack' of emails in my endbox at day's end, I didn't miss anything of an urgent nature.
2) I did miss the somewhat regular interaction I normally have with some friends through a youth ministry forum I participate in and through Twitter (never EVER thought I'd say that about Twitter!)
My closest peer relationships happen online. Some of these relationships began around 8 years ago when I lived in Colorado. Many of the PC(USA) relationships that I have outside of my congregation, have developed from online communities. These relationships enrich my life. (And these relationships are definitely not 'less than' in any way.) Because these relationships happen in an online context, I am actually able to stay more regularly connected than not. Many of these online interactions naturally evolved into telephone conversations and face-to-face meetings. Without the initial online connection - I'd have never have had the opportunity to connect with some people I now count as close friends.
From a Living 2010 perspective, I'm thinking that being connected with a wide variety of people and with many streams of thought is becoming more of the norm. It will be interesting to see how technology allows us to both stay connected while simultaneously freeing us from staying hard-wired into any one mode of connecting. For me, multiple (nearly simultaneous) modes of connecting seem to work. Wondering how technology might enhance that potential connectivity.
Connecting.
Interesting.
January 3, 2010
Health
I give 'health' little thought unless for some reason my own shifts from a state of wellness to a state of brokenness. It's one of those things you don't realize the value of until it begins to get in your way. And as thankful as I am for medicine that can help one overcome illness - I'm also painfully aware that the same medicine changes the way food tastes, the way I sleep, and the way my brain processes information. (Just FYI, I haven't had a truly academic thought since about December 11.) And, of course, since I finished up the last (3rd) round of antibiotics on New Year's Eve and the last of the prednisone on New Year's Day, I'm now - just a few days out - sensing that 'it' isn't over yet. This 'it' that is stealing my time and my patience.
If I'm honest, I'm not surprised that mr. health has kicked me this winter. I've not been giving him much attention. I've been functioning with too little sleep, with too little healthy eating, and with too little exercise. I've also allowed some stressful 'stuff' to have more of an impact that I should have. I think I've about figured out a strategy for staying well - but I need to get well first.
So...another important shift for Living 2010... making sure health is a priority and not an afterthought.
If I'm honest, I'm not surprised that mr. health has kicked me this winter. I've not been giving him much attention. I've been functioning with too little sleep, with too little healthy eating, and with too little exercise. I've also allowed some stressful 'stuff' to have more of an impact that I should have. I think I've about figured out a strategy for staying well - but I need to get well first.
So...another important shift for Living 2010... making sure health is a priority and not an afterthought.
