Ignatian Spirituality – Page 20 – MAKING ALL THINGS NEW

Starting off right

I love to watch the sun come up, sipping a fresh cup of coffee. I have a small patio just outside my kitchen, where I’ve got a table and chairs. A ceramic image of Mary and the baby Jesus that I purchased in Florence years ago hangs on the side of my garden shed. As I look to the East, the sky changing from dark to light, from peachy red to creamy yellow, my focus shifts between the light of the new day and this little ceramic image. Its a great way for me to begin again. I usually say the “gloria” during these few minutes, and I thank the Lord that He is a God of second chances.

No matter what I did yesterday, I can start again. If I focused on the wrong things, I’m given the chance to re-focus. If I wronged someone, I’ve got another twenty-four hours to right it.

During the winter, or if the weather is bad, I have the same experience by looking out my second floor window. If it’s raining, I still pray this way, knowing that the sun is still coming up behind the clouds, even though I can’t see it. Rainy days remind me that God is moving whether I can see it or not.

I’m grateful that there is some on-line help too. I love the three minute retreat from Loyola Press. After I pray with the sunrise, I usually make my way, with my second cup of coffee, to the computer, see what’s new, and end with this on-line prayer.

My mom starts her day by visiting Sacred Space, a website produced by the Irish Jesuits. She’s been visiting this site each day for years. Growing up, I don’t think I ever even heard of the Jesuits, much less met one. But now, they influence me through the three minute retreats, wonderful books about Ignatian Spirituality (Try Inner Compass by Margaret Silf) and through the internet. I’m in the last days of making a 34 week retreat based upon the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. It’s been a life-changer. More about that another time…

butterflies

I’ve just come back from a trip to Chicago. It was a time to renew friendships, meet some new people, and learn about all the ways Loyola Press is helping people grow in their faith. Thanks to everyone for making it a meaningful trip.

One of the exercises we did involved taking a butterfly cutout and embellishing it with words and decoration in order to tell a story. It was an interesting task, and I couldn’t wait to share the meaning behind the message I was trying to convey. Unfortunately, we ran out of time and couldn’t fully explain (at least I didn’t have enough time).

So, here’s my story: Sometime in May last year, I was sitting on my patio praying. It was late morning, the sun was warm, a gorgeous day. Unfortunately, I was down in the dumps, trying to get my life back on track, and had to make some big changes. Change is always hard, isn’t it?

So, as I as sitting there with my coffee, I saw a monarch butterfly go shooting past. It caught my attention, and I was mesmerized as it flew through the air, darting, weaving, back and forth. I’d never seen a butterfly do this before, and I thought it might have been poisoned somehow, maybe landing on a leaf that had been sprayed with pesticide.

As it flew, side to side, up and down, fast and slow, it suddenly came to me. This must be its first flight! Shortly before I witnessed this inaugural journey into the sky, it was in a cocoon. How difficult is it to make this change? What did the Lord want to say to me in giving me this experience?

As I continued to watch, I was almost moved to tears. I had never seen anything like it, and it truly was a gift. And I know God was speaking to me through it. I believe He wanted to tell me that it was time for a new beginning for me. A radical transformation was in order. It would be hard, painful, but also exhilarating. And it would lead to places I previously could not have gone.

Most big changes are going to be hard. But I think God is there, standing on the sidelines, cheering us on, calling us to a new Way, a new Life. I continue to be struck by the experience I had that late spring morning. I could never had predicted the transformation the Lord began in me that day, which still continues even now. What do you think God wants to transform in you?