This past week our pastors had the blessing of an interview with the author of Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life, Rev. Tish Harrison Warren. In conversation, she suggested the idea of considering a “liturgy audit,” or put more simply, an audit of your time. In ancient spiritual disciplines this is referred to as the “Practice of Examen.” This practice has roots in Ignatian spirituality. 

 For this week, as we look for opportunities of being nourished by God’s grace, consider trying this practice at day’s end as a means of reflection, journaling and ultimately prayer:

 Where today did I experience feelings of anxiety, pain, grief, loneliness, etc.?

Where today did I experience feelings of joy, gratitude, contentment, blessing, etc.?

Where today did I experience God in the midst of good moments, hard times and the ordinary?

Where today did I see God in other human beings?

Where today did I experience the consequences of sin?

Where today was I the most at peace?

 There are other questions or rewordings you can tweak in this type of practice. The idea is to practice reflecting with God upon the day as a means of seeing where you may be moving away from God’s presence in of the midst of any day. In Examen, we attempt to “draw near to God” (James 4:8) allowing God’s Spirit to inform, transform, and even convict us. This practice asks that we offer to God our day/our experiences, with confession, adoration and thanksgiving in the knowledge of God’s ever-present love. To learn more about this practice from a United Methodist perspective go to: http://prayer-center.upperroom.org/resources/resources-articles/53.