Lent isn’t exactly like spring training for baseball. We are not throwing the ball around or taking batting practice and honing all the skills that go into the game. Lent, however, is a good time to work on spiritual disciplines and spiritual exercises which may have gotten a bit rusty or out of shape. There is no time like today to reexamine our inner life.
I use the word examine intentionally because an “examen” was a traditional way of examining one’s life in terms of how daily behavior was consistent, or in agreement with such a criterion as the Ten Commandments, or the way in which Jesus lived.
This Lent, I will be using The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius in Daily Life, by Kevin O’Brien, SJ. The title of the book may seem off-putting, or of little interest, to real people who have jobs, kids, and stress and aren’t retired, sitting around grumbling over this and that like yours truly. But, as a teaser to the Ignatian way, here are five steps which may be of interest to enter not just spring training—but a Lenten exercise.
- Keep a journal for Lent—forty days. If you have never kept a journal, start with a paragraph about your day. Identify a standout event or experience. Don’t get too carried away because there is always tomorrow and another day and another entry.
- Review the day with a spirit of thanksgiving. It is different from focusing on your mistakes, goofs, or even sins. In your mind, rewind the past 24 hours and identify a blessing or hold onto something good and make note of it.
- As you recall the day, recall some of the feelings e.g. happy, sad, mad, glad. Keep it simple but also add any thoughts, ideas or images that may have come across your mind. Dreams may also surface and be worth recording.
- You are now examining your inner life. It is confidential. The journal is for your eyes only. Like with faith, it is personal but not private should you want to share insights. And you are now on the path to pray; P praise, A ask, T thanksgiving, H help.
- Final step is to look forward to tomorrow. In your journal, you can jot down a “to do” list. But it is not about being busy or Type-A. Rather take a moment and pray about what you and God plan on doing tomorrow.
A journal is a good start. It is not the end but it will get you going within your spiritual life. Granted, so many commercials these days conclude with a warning before taking this drug check with your doctor. If you bump into something during these forty days check in with your clergy or someone you trust. It need not be a solo exercise.
But if we are to become aware and attentive to God’s movements in our life, be assured “this is the day, the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24). A journal is a wonderful tool to help us not only be on the lookout for God but Lent provides us with the opportunity of responding to God as we follow Jesus in these forty days and forty nights.
Here is to Lent and may God’s blessings be with you.
