The novelist Frederich Buechner offers some widely shared advice when he writes, ‘Listen to your life…’ There is a useful device for listening to your life - the diary or journal, hand written or typed in a phone. It’s a simple habit to take up over the forty days of Lent, to jot down one line or paragraph every day.
A snapshot of thoughts or feelings, joys or sadnesses. A brief line drawing of a place deep in your heart. One day an entry about something big – how someone you love lifted you up... or let you down. Another day some troubling - or joyful - interaction. A wish or complaint, a fear or hurt. A word of thanks.
Ignatius of Loyola in the sixteenth century, picked up early on the idea of a daily playback, creating a series of spiritual exercises often called ‘the Examen’. A simple, daily life check.
The Examen has five steps, something like these.
Give thanks. Replay the day you’ve had, freeze-frame the people or moments you’re grateful for.
Capture some sign of hope or joy. Was there a moment of forgiveness or compassion? A sign of courage or unexpected love?
Notice any sadness or regret. Some news you heard about or event you were part of? Some word you regret or action you neglected?
Recognise the down as well as the up. Write the difficult as well as the delight.
Consider tomorrow. How might it be different?
The examen. Rewind. Hit Play. Watch the day again. Listen to your life.