Looking for a Personal or Family Prayer Practice for Lent? Try the Ancient Awareness Examen

While not mentioned in the Bible, Lent, a season of self-examination and penitence leading up to Easter, has been observed by Christians since the 2nd century.  It evolved into the current 40 days beginning on Ash Wednesday in the 6th century.  

When it comes to self-examinations, my favorite is the 16th century Awareness Examen by Saint Ignatius of Loyola (the founder of the Jesuit religious order).  He thought examining the moments of "consolation" and "desolation" to be so instrumental to one's prayer life that during the Council of Trent when the Jesuits asked if they could skip their prayer exercises because they were so busy, his response was they could skip anything but the Examen.  Noticing God's presence in their daily lives would help them best draw near to and follow God during such a busy time.   

As we draw near to God though examining our daily life, we discover three gifts--balance, wholeness and discernment.  

Rather than rushing through a day and labeling it all "good" or "bad," I can gently look back over it, discovering there was more than met my hurried eye.  Moments I thought insignificant end up being full of meaning, at times offering a completely different or at least a more balanced perspective of the day I labeled.  

Rather than being a product of my personality, the lens with which I view the world is offered a gentle corrective.  Perhaps you're like one of my children who sees the world through a more negative lens, it's harder for her to remember her happiest moment in a given day.  Or you may see the world through overly-positive eyes, ignoring the moments of anger and sadness. No matter what our lens, the Examen helps us consider parts of our day and ourselves we may not naturally see.  As we do, we are reminded that God welcomes the whole of us and is fully with us in and speaking through every kind of moment.
 
Rather than letting life live me, regularly engaging the Examen and even keeping a record of my reflections offer keys for discernment from my own life to guide my life.  Looking back over our moments of "consolation" and "desolation" we may see themes and patterns emerge. Clarity for decisions and callings become apparent in reviewing what has been life-giving and life-draining or where God's presence has been most experienced.   

This prayerful look over one's day or week can be done daily or weekly after dinner-time or before going to sleep.  We can practice it privately or communally.  Both children and adults can engage the Examen which takes about 15 minutes.  So find a quiet place, a family member or friend, and begin your time of reflection.

Awareness Examen
A version of St. Ignatius’ 16th century prayer by Kasey Hitt (2006-2007), Mark Yaconelli's Sabbath Retreat (2003), and Dennis, Sheila and Matthew Linn’s book, Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life.

Silence
You might choose to light a candle as a reminder of the Holy Spirit’s presence, take a few slow, deep breaths, place your hand on your heart, or pray this Psalm, “God, examine me and know my heart, test me and know my concerns. Make sure that I am not on my way to ruin, and guide me on the road of eternity.”  (Psalm 139:23-24)

Events of the Day
Ask God to help you look over your day (or week) and bring to your mind & heart the following two questions. (Choose one set beforehand)

For what moment today am I most grateful?
For what moment today am I least grateful?

When did I feel the most alive today?
When did I most feel life draining out of me today?

When did I feel closest to God (or sense I was moving toward God) today?
When did I feel most distant from God (or sense I was moving away from God) today?

For young children:
When were you happiest today?
When were you maddest or saddest today?

What did you feel good about today?
What was your biggest struggle today (when did you feel sad, helpless or angry)?

Thanksgiving & Forgiveness
Hang out in your moment of thanksgiving, relive it in your mind's eye as a way of gratitude. Receive again the gifts offered to you in that moment and offer thanks to God.

Recall the moment you are least grateful for without trying to change or fix it; be open to receive from God whatever God would like to offer.  It may be the invitation to repentance, forgiveness, comfort, instruction, the nudge to ask for help, etc.  

Help for Tomorrow
In your own words, thank God for today and ask God for help for tomorrow, whatever the need may be.  Or close with this prayer: 
"God, thank you for the ways you are with us everyday, in every moment, loving us just as much in our best moments as in our worst.  May we place this day in Your hands and trust that you will guide, teach and companion us through the day tomorrow.  Help us learn to notice Your presence and invitations in our lives.  In Christ's Name, Amen."  

If doing the Examen with others, share your two moments and allow your prayer for one another to flow from the sharing.  Whether alone or with others, I hope you'll try this prayer practice at least 7 times over the next 7 weeks and see what happens!  You might choose to keep a journal so at the end you can look back and see what patterns emerge offering discernment.  Blessings to you this Lenten season!  

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