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God in all things
30 Days and a Broom
Discovering freedom and purpose through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
01
What are the Spiritual Exercises?
The Spiritual Exercises are a way of praying that helps you notice where God is already showing up in your life: moments of delight, despair, doubt. All of it. Through daily prayer and imaginative contemplation with scripture, you learn to listen more closely, to let go of baggage, and to make choices from a place of freedom rather than fear. It's less about following rules and more about falling in love with God, with your own life, and with the created world.
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Ignatian Retreats
Although the traditional setting is a 30-day silent retreat, Ignatius also outlined an option for completing the exercises over an extended period of about 9 months by setting aside an hour of prayer each day amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life. This extended retreat is known as the 19th Annotation or the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Living. You can also begin by exploring a shorter weekend or 5-day retreat.
Rules for Discernment
The rules are more like a map for understanding the lay-of-the-land of your inner life. As you pray and move through the day, you'll notice movements within you: consolation, that quiet sense of being drawn closer to God, filled with hope and love; and desolation, that unsettled pull away from God, bogged down by darkness and discouragement. The rules can help you to become aware of these movements, to understand where they’re leading you, and to take action that will lead to freedom.
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual direction isn't a class or counseling, but a way of paying attention to your actual experience of God with the help of a fellow traveler to ask clarifying questions. Over time, that attention brings patterns and themes into focus. Freedom and love deepen, and you find yourself more able to love others, engage the world, and discern your next right steps.
02
30 days and a broom?
My friend Stephanie tells the story about first walking into the rooms of AA and seeing somebody who had 30 days of sobriety: he celebrated by helping to sweep up after the meeting. She remembers looking at him and thinking: "I want 30 days and a broom!" I know that feeling, too! The phrase captures the sense of freedom and purpose that I received through the Spiritual Exercises.
03
Looking for resources in Wisconsin?
04
Dare to hope in the adventure
Jesus, I trust in you
"While the outcome of our own life and that of the world is not yet known, we can have confidence that it is an adventure held safe in God's mercy. Faith then becomes an act of courage. We can dare to hope."
Elizabeth Johnson
The Quest for the Living God
05
The life of St. Ignatius
There are so many great resources about the life of St. Ignatius. This one doesn't provide much biographical depth, but it is visually stunning and provides a nice overview.
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A fellow traveler...
Having been lavishly blessed by the Spiritual Exercises, I feel compelled to share the experience. I'm beginning year two of the Seminars in Ignatian Formation, which includes a spiritual direction practicum. Feel free to reach out if you'd just like some conversation with a fellow traveler on the spritiual journey!