Yesterday, I invited you to stay awake, alert, and aware of God as a
prayer practice for September. If taking deep cleansing breaths every hour helps you notice God, keep going. Or maybe
you are pausing before each meal or meeting to notice God is already
there. Another great practice is to
write down your high, low, and just so-so. Start with the high moments: what sparked joy or peace in you? Maybe a
conversation with a friend where you laughed.
Or maybe singing along with a song you hadn’t heard since high school. Next
is a low: what drained and dragged your soul down? Maybe a person who is so creative at getting
your pulse to elevate and setting your soul to agitate. Maybe listening to humans dehumanize each
other. Finally, what was just so-so that
day? Where was the beautiful
ordinariness that fills so much of our calendars and lives?
I encourage you to write these down for the whole month of
September. Please know that if you miss
a day, this is not an assignment for a grade, and this is a “smite-free”
invitation. I would love to talk to you
about what you are sensing God is up to in your life. You may only do this once a week, which is
great too. This prayerful practice,
which is a variation of the St. Ignatius’ Examen, is a wonderful way to realign
our mind, heart, and soul. I pray this
practice gives you life and lets God’s light reveal and remind you that you are
beloved. Amen.
