Looking back, looking forward: Journey with Jesus

I was never a consistent nor prolific journaler in years past, however, last year I undertook the Journey with Jesus, Discovering the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius by Larry Warner.   I was encouraged to journal on a daily basis.  While I didn’t quite manage daily, I wrote more than in the previous 5 years combined.   I found it helpful, challenging and often found myself writing things that I would have been afraid to say out loud.  It slowed me down a bit as I had to process what I was thinking in order to write it out.  But the biggest thing it did was get me writing again.  I’m a reluctant writer, I both love it and dread it at the same time.  I wouldn’t have this blog if I hadn’t started journaling more consistently last year.

As I looked back through my journal on December 31, I found things that I had forgotten about;  ideas and thoughts that I need to revisit.  They would have been lost, had I not written them down.  There are frustrations and victories at home and at work, all there, to be considered again, to see how God has moved, answered prayers, albeit often not the way I would have predicted or wanted.

The Daily Examen has made me more mindful of what I say and how I interact with people.  More importantly, I have been challenged on a daily basis to see myself through the eyes of grace and love and in so doing, my ability to see others through that lens has been transformed.  I have realized more clearly who I am and who I am not.  I have watched others on this same journey also becoming more themselves.  It has been a joy to behold.

Looking forward, I have yet to complete the exercises.  I’ve gotten stalled a few times.  But that is OK.  I’m still moving forward, and there is no right or wrong time frame for this.  I expect to be exploring Spiritual Direction from many angles this year.  As a recipient it has been life changing.  I’ll be pursuing training as a Spiritual Director in some way this year.   I expect I’ll write about that here on occasion.

I will be updating and continuing to expand my thoughts on ways that we need to be aware of the challenges faced by women in ministry.   I’ll be writing about the challenges at different life stages and some thoughts on how we need to challenge the current thinking.

I’ll be extending my annual “Holy Spirit Challenge” to you, too.  Every year I challenge the attenders of our monthly Holy Spirit Empowerment Night to an annual challenge.  Why not come along for the ride?

Above all, I want to go “Further up and further in”