Remembering—the Examen
I write on All Saints Day, November 1, a day to remember those who have gone before. My thoughts have been filled with my aunt and my father, both special people in my life. I do believe in the ‘communion of saints’ as we say in the Apostle’s Creed. It seems to me this is a good time to begin a season of remembering, examining. The year is ending whether you measure it by the liturgical or secular calendar. I am much more aware of the day’s ending since daylight is shorter now. Approaching end times are calls to the ancient discipline of ‘the Examen’, a regular (you choose the time frame) review of your living in the light only God can shine. Because we know a gracious God we are free to be honest in this work; our confessions we can be sure are heard by a forgiving Lord. We can repent knowing that our good intentions will be upheld by a loving master. We can even take pleasure in our ‘good deeds’ for in so doing we give thanks for God’s goodness to us.
I write on All Saints Day, November 1, a day to remember those who have gone before. My thoughts have been filled with my aunt and my father, both special people in my life. I do believe in the ‘communion of saints’ as we say in the Apostle’s Creed. It seems to me this is a good time to begin a season of remembering, examining. The year is ending whether you measure it by the liturgical or secular calendar. I am much more aware of the day’s ending since daylight is shorter now. Approaching end times are calls to the ancient discipline of ‘the Examen’, a regular (you choose the time frame) review of your living in the light only God can shine. Because we know a gracious God we are free to be honest in this work; our confessions we can be sure are heard by a forgiving Lord. We can repent knowing that our good intentions will be upheld by a loving master. We can even take pleasure in our ‘good deeds’ for in so doing we give thanks for God’s goodness to us.
Finding a way to practice this discipline is often difficult for we need a framework that balances the need to confess with the need to give thanks. Identifying prompts to bring to awareness both our times of distancing from God and following God is integral in encouraging growth. I recently read a quotation from Evelyn Underhill’s Essential Writings (quoted in Joyce Rupp’s Open the Door, p. 151) that offered I think an interesting framework for undertaking this examination. I offer it to you as a possibility. At the end of the day, the year, the life “Was everything that was done, done for love’s sake? Were all the doors opened, that the warmth of Charity might fill the whole house; the windows cleaned, that they might more and more radiate from within its mysterious divine light?” Stop, look, listen for what is done in love, opened to love, and radiates love. And if you are unsure what is love listen to St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13. Give the Examen in this form a try—tonight.
Blessings, Caroline
Sorry it is late but I wanted to keep one a month so here is November. I'll publish December too.
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