#the call to lead: ignatian wisdom and the journey of leading

[jeffreybower]

Your Week in Books #21

Another Vibal acquisition, Tara Frejas’ cover reveal, new books from Joan Didion and Ian McEwan, Ateneo book launches and more in this week’s edition. Continue reading Your Week in Books #21

[fratresdei]

Stay Spiritually Curious

Right after I finished seminary, I, like most seminary grads, was in a harried state. I had spent the last couple years routinely facing my greatest struggles with God, theology, and life itself head-on, and I was spent. I felt like a toddler who had finally cried herself out and was ready for a nap.

I had lived in the student apartments throughout my time at seminary, and I was preparing to move into an apartment across town. This apartment had a balcony. It was getting warmer out. I was hyped.

When someone begins a new faith tradition, we say they take a "leap of faith." The new practitioner is invited to trust the "magical thinking" part of the brain and to press into their felt experience. In order to make any progress with any line of thought, there have to be first principles to start with. In order to begin a spiritual practice, there has to be some kind of "leap" to the first principles of belief. (This isn't to say that joining an organized religion is necessary to start a spiritual practice. First principles of spiritual practice can simply be "I Feel Good After I Run.")

In order to establish first principles, a spirit of curiosity is necessary. The openness to think, What if I chewed on this glimmer of inclination? It's the glimmer that leads Muhammad into the cave, Jesus into the desert, Moses back to Egypt.

A "leap of faith"is hardly a one-time event. The willingness to continuously follow these "glimmers" is the very substance of spiritual growth. It's telling that we refer to people exploring faith traditions as "seekers," because to be a seeker is to have curiosity. Throughout the lifetime of our spiritual journeys, we are constantly invited to pick up on spiritual inclinations and, as seekers, choose to press in.

The virtue of openness and willingness to press into spiritual inclinations is the absolute heartbeat of spiritual growth.

I like to call this virtue "spiritual curiosity."

Spiritual curiosity finds its roots in the Ignatian tradition. Ignatius emphasized the importance of simply noticing what comes to mind in moments of prayer, lectio divina, meditation, and other spiritual exercises. By noticing the thoughts that surface, we may then press into them more deeply. We can follow the breadcrumb trail left by the Divine to see what goodies she/he/they have for us. It's like a game. It is a game.

This was the game I was playing with God post-seminary. For the foreseeable future, my only spiritual inclination was to sit on my balcony. And that I did. I spent the summer soaking in sunshine and waiting for further instructions. (To this day, you can find this event as part of my personal bio.)

This is what I love about spiritual curiosity:

1. Delight.

The core of spiritual curiosity is delight. On occasion the seeker receives an invitation to do something sacrificial, but even then the end result is usually wisdom gained or increased divine intimacy. But for today, let's focus on the fun stuff.

From the the Judeo-Christian perspective, a spirit of curiosity shifts the question of spiritual growth from "What do I need to do to get closer to God?" to "What gift has the Holy Spirit brought me today?" If it sounds self-serving, it's because it is. It's a side effect of following a God with the heart of a servant.

2. Anyone can do it.

The beauty of spiritual curiosity is that anyone at any point in spiritual journey can practice it, and you can go as big or as little as you want. Sometimes my spiritual inclination is literally just to light a candle to enjoy as I get ready for bed. Sometimes it's to start a spiritual direction private practice.

3. Simplicity.

Another benefit of spiritual curiosity is that it takes the pressure off. The noise of whether or not the inclination is "from God" or "just in my head" doesn't apply. Dare I quote Dumbledore, "Of course it is happening inside your head...but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" When we follow spiritual inclinations with curiosity, it doesn't matter whether we've received a Divine Vision or Calling™. Part of the exploration is seeing what this idea will lead you to—and whether not it's a good idea. But once again, for now, let's focus on neutral-to-positive inclinations.

Let's say you feel led to go for a walk. It may not be because you're going to stumble across an abandoned baby that you'll have to rescue. It could just be because walks are nice. And having a nice walk is something that God apparently likes to do (Gen. 3:8, Lk. 24:13-35). The goal isn't necessarily to accomplish some incredible purpose, but simply to be together and to enjoy each other and the things around you. (And that, friends, is what I think this whole universe is for in the first place.)

While spiritual journey naturally looks different for everyone, the way forward is always propelled by an openness to something new, something deeper, something greater, something beyond. In order to cultivate a spiritual life that is fit to grow, the muscles of openness and curiosity have to be exercised.

See what curiosity we're chasing at Fratres Dei.

[locustheologicus]

“Peace as a Journey of Hope, Dialogue, Reconciliation and Ecological Conversion”

January 1st marks the World Day of Peace message which every Pope since Saint Paul VI has offered since 1968. This year's message is titled "Peace as a Journey of Hope: Dialogue, Reconciliation and Ecological Conversion." These messages from the Holy Father are part of our Catholic social tradition and what they offer us is an annual reflection on how we can respond to current issues through our own Christian spirituality.  In this year's message Pope Francis highlights the sacrament of reconciliation and suggests that we ought to pursue reconciliation on so many issues that divide us through an authentic dialogue with one another.

The world does not need empty words but convinced witnesses, peacemakers who are open to a dialogue that rejects exclusion or manipulation. In fact, we cannot truly achieve peace without a convinced dialogue between men and women who seek the truth beyond ideologies and differing opinions. Peace “must be built up continually”; it is a journey made together in constant pursuit of the common good, truthfulness and respect for law. Listening to one another can lead to mutual understanding and esteem, and even to seeing in an enemy the face of a brother or sister.

The Pope invites us Catholics to also utilize the sacrament of reconciliation and prayers (the Ignatian Examen comes to mind) to help us form our conscience against the spirit of fear and division so that the Holy Spirit "can make us artisans of justice and peace." Towards the end of his message the Pope did call us to enter into this spirit of reconciliation and dialogue in reflection of our contemporary environmental crisis: 

This journey of reconciliation also calls for listening and contemplation of the world that God has given us as a gift to make our common home. Indeed, natural resources, the many forms of life and the earth itself have been entrusted to us “to till and keep” (Gen 1:15), also for future generations, through the responsible and active participation of everyone. We need to change the way we think and see things, and to become more open to encountering others and accepting the gift of creation, which reflects the beauty and wisdom of its Creator.

Happy New Year to all of you who follow me in this blog and who support the ministry of advocating for a more just world in accordance to our Catholic social tradition. May the World Day of Peace message fill us with a renewed sense of hope as we prepare to tackle the issues we will face in the upcoming year. Below is a video from Rome Reports on the World Day of Peace message to aid you in your reflection.

[cgpblog]

Renewal through Prayer

Ignatius of Loyola

The Renewing Place

There’s no “clocking out” for family caregivers. And no way to schedule the urgent demands of love and duty. Your whole life seems to be “on call”. Quiet times are rare. And when they do happen, you  just  want  to  rest . …

No one’s going to argue with your need. At least no one that really understands the pressures caregivers face. But often, when our body tries to rest…our mind resists. It reviews our day or night. Sometimes over and over. It challenges our decisions. It insists that we re-make tomorrow’s “to-do” lists. All the while assuring us that this stressful recollection is simply part of what it means to be a “responsible caregiver”.

The More Fruitful Way

Centuries ago Ignatius of Loyola developed  a way to turn your day’s reflecting into soul-quieting renewal. An ancient, prayerful, tender, instructive way to walk with our LORD through the events of our day and our responses to them. But this end-of-day reflecting is not for judging us… or our actions. It is, instead, our LORD’s loving way of helping us see each day’s actions and reactions  more clearly, and discover what he seeks to develop in us through them. Patiently, lovingly, deepening the care in our care–giving.

“These prayer exercises are an experience, a great adventure to the heart of God and, therefore , to the real and present needs of the world.”

Some of us will be tempted to heave a deep sigh and think to ourselves: “I just don’t have time for one more thing…even something good.”  Father Kevin O’Brien understands that feeling. He has broken this daily prayer into five steps. And he adds this practical advice: “Don’t feel that you have to do all five steps or use a precise formula of words. This is not about completing a task but about building a relationship. Here is an overview of those five steps:

1. Pray for God’s Help

There is nothing magical about praying. Prayer is a conversation with God. So invite God to be with you during this sacred time. Ask God to help you to be grateful and honest as you look back on the day. With God’s help, be attentive to how the Spirit was working in and through you, others, and creation. Let yourself see your day as God sees it.

2. Give Thanks for the Gifts of this Day

For Ignatius, gratitude is the first, most important step on the spiritual journey. An attitude of gratitude, practiced often enough, helps us find God in all things, and can transform the way we look at our life and at other people.

So, review the day and name the blessings, from the most significant and obvious, to the more common and ordinary. God (not the devil) is found in the details, so be very specific. As you take stock, honor  the gifts of others in your life, but don’t forget to recognize the gifts in you, for they, too, and God given.

Don’t feel that you must mechanically go through the day hour by hour or make a list of all the day’s gifts. Instead, savor the gifts that God shows you. With God’s gentle guidance, let the day go through you.

“Ignatius had a clear sense of being called to serve alongside Jesus.”

3. Pray over the Significant Feelings That Surface as You Replay the Day

Ignatius believed that God communicates with us not only through mental insights, but also through our “interior moments,” as he called them: our feelings, emotions, desires, repulsions, and moods. As you reflect on the day, you may notice some strong feelings arise. They may be painful or pleasing – for example, joy, peace, sadness, anxiety, confusion, hope, compassion, regret, anger, confidence, jealousy, self-doubt, boredom, or excitement.

Feelings are neither positive nor negative: it is what you do with them that raises moral questions. These movements can tell you about the direction of your life on this specific day. And simply bringing them to the surface can help release the destructive hold that some feelings have on you. 

Pick one or two strong feelings or movement and pray from them. Ask God to help you understand what aroused those feelings and where they lead you:

■ Did they draw you closer to God? Did they help you grow in faith, hope, and love? Did they make you more generous with your time and talent?�� Did they make you feel more alive, whole, and human? Did they lead you to feel more connected to others or challenge you to life-giving growth?

■ Or did the feelings lead you away from God, make you less faithful, hopeful and loving? Did they cause you to become more self-centered or anxious? Did they lure you into doubt and confusion? Did they lead to the breakdown of relationships?

4. Rejoice and Seek Forgiveness

Rejoice in those times that you were brought closer to God, and ask forgiveness for those times today when you resisted God’s presence in your life. Praise God for the grace of awareness given to you during this time of prayer, even if you become aware of things you are not proud of. This awareness is the beginning of healing and conversion.

Ignatius encountered a God who was not a tyrant waiting for him to slip up, but a helping God who wanted for him the fullness of life.

5. Look to Tomorrow

Just as God is with you today, God will be with you as you sleep and when you wake up tomorrow. Invite God to be part of your future. What do you need God’s help with? Be very practical and specific. If it’s helpful, look at your schedule for tomorrow. God wants to be there with you, in the most dramatic and mundane moments of your life. Ask God to give you the grace you need – for example, courage, confidence, wisdom, patience, determination, or peace. Or perhaps you would like to pray for the person in your care.

Close by speaking to God from your heart, or with a prayer that is familiar to you, such as the LORD’s Prayer.*

Ignatius experienced God’s deep love not just for the world generally, but for him personally. He experienced this love as a profoundly intimate call by Christ to follow him, a call that filled him with a passionate zeal to serve God and help souls.    

Caregiving is a day after day process. It’s calls us to change…and to grow. There are always new lessons to be learned. Lessons that often stretch our abilities and try our spirits. Lessons that call for strengths and graces far, far beyond our own, no matter the depth or breadth of our giftedness and grace.

We do not serve alone. Our compassionate LORD invites each of us into a partnership of caring through which both care-recipients and caregivers experience the warmth and the wonder of his presence and power.  

Now, through this Ignatian experience of prayerful reflection, our loving LORD invites us to examine with him the ways in which we are learning to live out the deepest levels of care in our caregiving. Grow in His Peace. Grow in His Love. Amen.

The overview of the Five Steps was excerpted from The Ignatian Adventure: Experiences in the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius in Daily Life by Kevin O’Brien, SJ and is reprinted with permission from the author and Loyola Press. Please visit www.LoyolaPress.com.