My to do list, Examen the next Day

Back in August, in the midst of silence at Wernersville, well, in the midst of the one conversation I had that particular day, my spiritual director gave me a book to read.

I may have said something like this... "even the thought of how it may be good to get ready for my 8 days of silence, did not bring me back to praying the Examen."

My spiritual director handed me a book by Jim Manney while telling me about how it had rejuvenated her passion for the Examen. So I read it. And what struck me was how I had always resisted/ignored/avoided the part of the prayer about examening the next day. So I placed it into practice, and now four and a half months since I left that hill top, almost every night I sit down and look at my expected day. I check off what I did, but also examen what did not happen. The goal for me is to list what I fully expect to do the next day: teach about momentum, plant marjoram seeds, consult with a colleague, listen to jazz, hope, continue on with the big mandala project, pierogies for dinner, e-mail this friend, lift weights, ..... As I examen my future, I ponder: which are bringing me the gladness of anticipation for the next day and which bring me reluctance to face the day...

and which have I been avoiding but keep placing on the list.

So I came home and ordered the book.  I loaned it to a friend, and now I can imagine taking it out to the Jesuit Center when I spend a night there in February, a fine time to get recharged with a second read

.

to do list on a day off

It is 6:15 am and I never make this kind of list...

• finish the epic stained glass project while listening to Victoria Williams
• research the evolution of color vision while having a cup of coffee
• make the seed order already
• add 5 new photos to Flickr
• e-mail the garden bloggers who I friended in my last post
• pack up a stained glass... over at ETSY a person chose one of my pieces of the haystack and I did let myself feel pleased about that.
• return to doing the daily examen already and not beat myself up for falling away from it.
• plan out some meals and get the food to make them
• clean up the kitchen so I can make one of those meals
• exercise
• make up a bag of under utilized warm clothing to donate to the Purple Heart folk
• research plate tectonics
• take a nap
• hang out with Mosaic Woman

OK, 60 hours later and I look at the list. Most were completed or partially completed. I didn't plan on having to shovel snow (truly not in the forecast). I didn't expect a friend to call and say "can you send me a description of a gardening workshop, I want to take it to a meeting tonight" (will say more at a later date).

But... I didn't take a nap. I didn't do an examen.

However, last night I sat down with intent to be with God. As is typical, I felt glad that I said hello. It had been a long time.

Obama wants to know what we can do to help this country. Last night I prayed and asked God what I could do for his creation.

and yes, the epic project is done, except for hooks. I still have not seen it with sunshine pouring through. short days, I am so glad they are lengthening. Thus I have no photos, and they won't be shown here until Giggles sees it and I refuse to deliver it at night. Sunday?