Meditation #6: Prayer of Examen
In this final post on methods of meditation and prayer, I want to share one of my favorite prayers. The prayer of examen is a reflective prayer that meditates on the ordinary happenings of each day. It is an end-of-the-day review that invites the Spirit to sift out those things that have drawn you closer to God, or those things that put a wedge or distance between you and God. St. Ignatius, who is best known for developing this prayer practice for the Jesuits, would call this looking for what brought you to consolation or desolation. But even more ancient than Ignatius is the examen found in Psalm 139, “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts.”
So at the end of the day, or the next morning, take a few minute, asking God to bring forward to your mind the highlights and details of you day — allowing the day to pass through your thoughts rather than trying to recount every hour or minutes. What arises? Offer gratitude for each remembrance and receive it as gift.
Then notice any significant feelings that arise in this review of the day — positive or negative — and consider what has drawn you closer to God, spurring growth or consolation, joy, faith, hope, or love. These may be times when you felt most alive or engaged, inspired or enthused about something. Then consider anything that led you away from God - a decision, an attitude, judgement or frustration. Recognize these times by the doubts, confusion, anxiety they may have produced.
Which of these remembrances carry the most energy or weight as you notice them? Choose one of these events and pay closer attention to it? What lies beneath the initial emotion? Is the consolation a deeper calling or a new awakening? Is the desolation something that you hang on to but needs to be released? Do either prompt further exploration or action? A forgiveness, a conversation, an expressed gratitude?
Finally, use this meditation as a stepping stone to impact your tomorrow. Ask for the grace or gift you will need to meet tomorrow. Consider recording any insights, commitments, hopes or joys in your journal.
What difference might this kind of prayer and meditation have in your everyday life? If this is a part of your faith journey, I’d love to hear how you practice it.
Tomorrow is National Book Day and I will end this series on meditation with my book list of favorites on prayer and meditation.
