Though I don’t do it daily, I should. It’s probably one of the best things converting to Catholicism has done for me — the daily examen. The form I use comes from St. Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises and has some simple steps:
- Become aware of God’s presence.
- Review the day with gratitude.
- Pay attention to your emotions.
- Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
- Look toward tomorrow.
As part of L’s widening spiritual education, she and I have begun doing this together. We’ve been using a podcast to help us out, and we sit in her room and reflect on our day using the podcast labeled “examen for children.” It could really work for anyone, though. It boils everything down to a few ideas.
- What did you do that made you happy today? Give God thanks for it.
- What did you do that made you sad today? Apologize to God for it (and it adds that you might need to apologize to a person as well).
- What do you think you might need help with tomorrow? Ask God for that help.
Tonight, we shared with each other our joyful moments. It was fairly simple, and we had the same moment: when she and I with E played with Legos.
What an impressive array of equipment we now have, using the old Legos Nana saved from my childhood combined with the new sets the Girl has been collecting. We have a camper, a log cabin, a yacht, a space craft, an alien ship, an alien prison. We had fierce space battles in the morning and attacks on humans in the evening, with our brave defenders battling the Borg — though I didn’t explain the whole concept of “we will assimilate you!” as I attacked — as they tried to snatch innocent campers from their weekend getaways. The Boy teamed up with me and we launched a fearsome, dual-pronged attack that resulted in the kidnapping of both astronauts and campers. But alas, L and her space cadets were too clever for us and managed to free everyone just in time for bed.
What joy, I thought as I did my own examen this evening. And what a shame that I don’t do it more often. I let other things get in the way. I become selfish. I too often have different priorities. Not to say I neglect my children, but I think perhaps some days I don’t do enough. And so I resolve to do better the next day, and some days I do, and some days I don’t.
K, on the other hand, has always impressed me with her selflessness with the kids. That’s a mother’s gift, I suppose. No, it’s not a gift. That takes it out of my control. It’s a mother’s choice. And that is another simple experience — seeing such a wonderful mother in action — to be thankful for during my examen.
I read this post several times. At once beautiful and wise. I know you say it comes from being Catholic, but I’d never heard of this practice before. It could be me. I especially see how worthwhile it is to do this alongside a child.
Thank you for sharing it.
It’s just a more positive spin on that Catholic practice that has such a lovely, evocative Polish name: rachunek sumienia.
“Garcon,” says the conscience, “check please.”
It’s intended to help keep track of what all one will have to confess next Saturday afternoon, but it also stresses the positive. In other words, one’s movements toward and away from God.