Road Warrior, Tom McGrath, is back from making presentations in Pennsylvania and has responded to Michelle and me on the Examen.
Paul,
I’ve enjoyed the lively conversersation on the Examen (Examination of Consciousness) and especially love Michelle’s image of sitting on the couch with God as she reviews her day. Everything changes for me when I become aware of God’s presence in this process of examining my day. Knowing God’s presence helps me avoid falling into the abyss you describe of indulging in self-recrimination.
In fact Michelle’s comments recalled to mind an article I read in the newsletter from the Ignation Spirituality Project (www.ispretreats.org) , Jesuit Fr. Bill Creed’s ministry bringing Ignatian retreats to homeless men and women. The article recounted the words of one of the retreatants who said being asked to witness at a retreat gives people a rare opportunity to:
Tell your story to yourself
Tell your story to others
Tell your story to God, and then
Let God tell your story to you.
I was deeply moved by this insight that God would have an interest in telling my story to me. And I know when God tells it, though there will be truth, there will be no recriminations–only understanding and compassion and a desire that I open my heart to divine love.
Tom
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Harold M. Carter, Anchorite, ASC 02.17.10 at 5:39 am
So very helpful, and filled with bliss that can only be found through an intimate relationship with God.