Congregational Prayer
Practices (part 2 of 4)
Awareness Examen
By
Teresa Blythe
At its core, Christian
spirituality is about awareness. Noticing what you are experiencing
within yourself and gathered as a community. Most of us live our lives
somewhat aware but not acutely aware. If you want to grow spiritually,
you need to increase in awareness.
One of the best ways to do
this in our faith communities (be it in worship, in small groups or
during leadership team meetings) is to regularly engage in a prayer
practice known as the Awareness Examen. This practice is also called
the Ignatian Examen since it originates with Ignatius of Loyola (16th
century) and the Jesuit Order of the Catholic church. Ignatius
discovered that this prayer, used repeatedly by individuals and
groups, is especially helpful in identifying how we experienced God in
daily life.
It’s very simple, and can
be done easily in a group setting, even in worship. The prayer leader
invites the group to settle into a prayerful attitude and reflect on a
period of time in the life of the community (day, week, month, year,
our last meeting, the previous worship service, etc.).
In what moment during this
time period did we feel God’s presence most deeply?
In what moment during this
time period did we feel far away from God?
There are many ways to ask
this same question. It’s important, though, to focus on specific
times, places and events rather than thinking in generalities. It’s
also important that you spend time with both the consolation
(closeness to God) and the desolation (distance from God). Both are
helpful gifts in discerning how God is present in our lives. Here are
some examples of questions:
In what moment did we
feel the most gratitude in community?
In what moment did we
feel the least gratitude in community?
In what moment did we
feel the most energy and life?
In what moment did we
feel the most drained and depleted?
What one moment in last
Sunday’s worship helped you transcend yourself and be close God?
What one moment in last
Sunday’s worship disturbed your inner peace?
What activities did we
do last year that made our congregation come alive?
What activities did we
do last year that drained our congregation?
I’m sure you can come up
with many variations on those themes. If you are the pastor or group
leader, you may quake just a little thinking about the ramifications
of hearing the answers to these questions out loud. Sure it’s
difficult to admit that some of what we do in church is life-draining.
And people will not always agree on where they felt God’s presence.
But we believe in a God that loves and appreciates diversity, so we
can handle the truth!
When leading the Awareness
Examen, always give the group time in silence to mull over how they
would answer the question. If you are in worship and don’t have time
to hear all the responses out loud, you could have people write their
responses down and collect them in a basket. If you are in a small
group or if you have a lot of time with a larger group, allow some
time for people to answer each question by stating their own truth
without commenting on what another person has shared. Take it one
question at a time. After everyone who wants to share has done so, you
may also ask the questions:
What do you notice about
what has been shared here in this prayer?
How might we move more
toward work, service, worship or other activities that are
life-giving?
What might God be saying
to us about work, service, worship or other activities that are
life-draining?
This final question draws
us out of our individual responses and invites us to begin thinking
and discerning in community.
Be sure to do the Examen
often. Its real value is not in a one-shot experience but in doing it
at regular intervals and noticing what comes up repeatedly on both
questions. Over time you will get a feel for how God is alive and
moving in your congregation.
One last note: I
lead the Examen with church groups frequently, so if ever have a
question about how to do it or want some guidance, I can be reached at
teresa@teresablythe.net. I’d love to hear
from you.
Teresa Blythe is a
spiritual director, discernment coach and member of First
Congregational UCC of Tucson. She is author of 50 Ways to Pray:
Practices from Many Traditions and Times and recently participated in
the Congregational Discernment Leadership Project at George Fox
University. Visit her website on spiritual direction at
www.teresablythe.net.
Previous articles in this
series:
Week 1:
Sacred Reading
by Teresa Blythe