Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God,
Teach me true generosity.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve.
To give without counting the cost,
To fight heedless of wounds,
To labor without seeking rest,
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward
Save the knowledge that I have done your will.
Amen.
[Feast Day, Ignatius Loyola, 31 July]
Ignatius developed and taught his friends to examine themselves, their actions, and intentions, through prayer.
The Spiritual Exercises, The Examen, both came from the Ignatian approach to prayer.
Following is from a "Lunchtime Examen" I found on an Ignatian Spirituality site. It sums up things nicely, step by step.
The process is the same each day. The effect is timeless. The effect is GOOD. Give it a try.
This was the view I had recently. It was a 30-Hour Retreat. We got up early, almost like a work day to get there.
It's good to do for mind, body, and soul. Regularly. For your own well-being, and for others.
When you allow yourself to chill, it means taking pause, a bit of emotional and spiritual detente, giving your engine time to spool down from breakneck speed.
Chill. Out. GOOD.
I started this blog three years ago this month, July. At the time I was looking for a way to share some thoughts, some insights, and further the good in the world.
Not sure how much good I’ve done, but I’ve definitely shared a lot of thoughts. Gotten some positive feedback along the way, which is good for me if nothing else. And I’ve certainly learned a lot.
I plan to continue blogging, sharing, pursuing the GOOD in this manner. I’ve also got another avenues coming down the pike later this yesr.
I’ll have an e-book up in the fall, before the holidays. It will be a sort of coffee table book, a short volume, about being a new dad. It will bring a little humor, and hopefully inspiration, to fathers.
I’m also designing a short podcast I’ll produce and share periodically. Same goal: share a little insight, further the good in the world.
So whether you’re new to this blog, or have been along these last three years, thanks for reading. Please share it with others. On we go toward the GOOD.
…The Light is Coming.
Wait for the Light.
Look for the Light.
Be the Light.
News of Chester Bennington’s suicide has me slowly shaking my head in frustration. The Linkin Park frontman left the world far too early, taking his own life at age 41.
“Another one gone”, I can only think.
His passing marks the latest of several public faces that have meant so much to so many through their lives and art. And then each decided to end end it, check out, commit suicide.
Ronnie Montrose. Robin Williams. Chris Cornell. And now Chester Bennington.
So very sad, for sure. But SO frustrating, too.
These posts from twitter give some sense of the tragedy of suicide. In this case they’re about Bennington (mostly), but the themes of darkness and pain and resulting loss are universal.
Famous or not, EVERY life matters.
No one should give up on hope, no one should give up on life.
No matter how dark it is, there is light out there for you.
Say No to the pain, don’t let it have the last word. Don’t let the anxiety and depression win.
Stay in the fight. Accept, and transcend, and KEEP GOING.
Finally, put this number in your phone. I just did.
You never know when you might change someone’s life, by saving it.
NEVER SUICIDE. NEVER GIVE UP.
Not always easy. Always the right answer.
Courtesy of BrainyQuotes and Mother Teresa.
