THE EXAMEN

- Seven Questions -

A reflection on divine activity in everyday life

Have you ever had the experience of driving and suddenly you realise that you haven't paid attention for the past few minutes, or even longer? It happens to me all the time. It's quite terrifying that while operating a potentially lethal piece of machinery at high speeds, instead of being hyper-aware of my surroundings, I've been mindlessly wondering who it was that discovered black activated charcoal made yellowing teeth white again.
Sometimes I wonder how often this experience of 'disengaged driving' spills over into the rest of life. Maybe you're like me and there are moments when you get to the end of a day, a week, or longer and wonder, "What have I been doing?" You're moving through your life, but you've been asleep at the wheel. 
The "Examen of Consciousness" is a fantastic practice for helping us to 'WAKE UP!' It can transform how we experience every day as we see more clearly where the Divine has been active in our lives.
This is an ancient practice, but the questions below represent how it has evolved for me as I have adapted and modified it over the years.

The Steps:

Take a few minutes to be still, quiet your mind and body; bringing your whole self to the practice. Now begin reviewing your day starting from the present moment. Play it back in your mind as though you are watching a movie in reverse. Pay attention to conversations, thoughts, difficult moments, people you passed on the street, songs you noticed, feelings of joy, frustrations, etc. Try to quiet your "inner editor" - give everything space.

As you go through your day, be mindful of the following questions (it might be helpful to write them down as you go): 
1. When was I fully present?

2. When was I distracted?

3. When did I feel free?

4. When did I feel stuck?

5. Where did I freely give?

6. Where did I withhold?

7. How did I experience and receive love? 
Thoughtfully ponder these questions. Sit with them for a while, remaining open to any invitations that arise in these reflections. With gratitude and grace, release this day and welcome the next. As you move into a steady rhythm of this practice, you might be surprised what themes and patterns begin to emerge. This is particularly true if you are writing some of your thoughts down and going back to review them every few weeks.
These larger patterns can often house profound insights and invitations into new levels of awareness of self and of the activity of God in your life.
The Examen can be a daily, weekly, or even yearly exercise. Play with it and see what it holds for you!

A reflection on divine activity in everyday life

Have you ever had the experience of driving and suddenly you realise that you haven't paid attention for the past few minutes, or even longer? It happens to me all the time. It's quite terrifying that while operating a potentially lethal piece of machinery at high speeds, instead of being hyper-aware of my surroundings, I've been mindlessly wondering who it was that discovered black activated charcoal made yellowing teeth white again. 
 
Sometimes I wonder how often this experience of 'disengaged driving' spills over into the rest of life. Maybe you're like me and there are moments when you get to the end of a day, a week, or longer and wonder, "what have I been doing?" You're moving through your life, but you've been asleep at the wheel. 
 
The "Examen of Consciousness" is a fantastic practice for helping us to 'WAKE UP!' It can transform how we experience every day as we see more clearly where the Divine has been active in our life. 

This is an ancient practice, but the questions below represent how it has evolved for me as I have adapted and modified it over the years.

The Steps:

Take a few minutes to be still, quiet your mind and body; bringing your whole self to the practice. Now begin reviewing your day starting from the present moment. Play it back in your mind as though you are watching a movie in reverse. Pay attention to conversations, thoughts, difficult moments, people you passed on the street, songs you noticed, feelings of joy, frustrations, etc. Try to quiet your "inner editor" - give everything space.

As you go through your day, be mindful of the following questions (it might be helpful to write them down as you go): 
1. When was I fully present?

2. When was I distracted?

3. When did I feel free?

4. When did I feel stuck?

5. Where did I freely give of myself?

6. Where did I withhold giving of myself?

7. How did I experience and receive love? 
Thoughtfully ponder these questions. Sit with them for a while, remaining open any invitations that arise in these reflections. With gratitude and grace, release this day and welcome the next. As you move into a steady rhythm of this practice, you might be surprised what themes and patterns begin to emerge. This is particularly true if you are writing some of your thoughts down and going back to review them every few weeks.

These larger patterns can often house profound insights and invitations into new levels of awareness of self and of the activity of God in your life.
The Examen can be a daily, weekly, or even yearly exercise. Play with it and see what it holds for you!