Examen - 05
November 07, 2024
Examen: Allyship
SUMMARY: We are all called to practice solidarity and right-relationship in our daily lives. This Examen invites us to reflect on that call, and to open ourselves to future actions with clarity and hope.
PRESENTER: Ann Hillman, MDIV (she/her), Director, Health Sciences Campus Ministry
Transcript
As we begin our Examen today, I invite us to find a comfortable position and settle into whatever space you are in. Wherever you are, at whatever part of your day, give yourself some separation from the hecticness, and allow yourself the gift of being rooted and grounded in this time of reflection. Take a deep breath, or close your eyes, or open your hands in your lap, or do whatever else will help you to be fully present in this moment. See if your body could be even 5% more comfortable, relaxing and releasing any places of tension as best you can. (pause) Notice your breath entering and leaving your body. (pause) Continue to notice your in-breath and out-breath, calling you to the present moment – to what “is,” moment-by-moment. (pause) Breathing in, feel yourself expand, receiving openness. Breathing out, feel release, letting go of any heavy burdens or distractions. Breathing in --- breathing out --- we begin our Ignatian Examen, reflecting today on our call to solidarity and allyship.
We invite to mind and heart an awareness of Divine presence – in us and around us. Ask this Sacred presence to remain with you, and ask for openness and freedom to receive whatever is meant for you to contemplate today. Breathing in, we ask for insight and clarity; breathing out, we release judgement, and a need for control. We allow God to guide our heart and mind.
We now spend some time reviewing our day, perhaps the last 24 hours, or since waking this morning. Place yourself back into the time and space of where you are starting your reflection, and consider the events that unfolded. Walk through the day, and see what surfaces in your memory. What conversations, interactions, and events have transpired? Who has crossed your path? What feelings and emotions have been present with you over this time? As you review the last day, what sticks out?
We review our life, too, with a lens of how we may or may not have been aware of those most marginalized, targeted, or discriminated against in our society or community. We are called to center and uphold the God-given dignity of our community members who may be otherwise kept on the periphery. Can you call to mind who might be feeling particularly vulnerable at this time – especially because of prejudice or discrimination due to unjust systems of oppression and ignorance?
You yourself may feel a target of hatred or “othering.” Be gentle with yourself if you find yourself in this place, knowing that you, that all of us, are God’s beloved. See if Divine Love offers you any insights into your call to radical, inclusive love – to both give and receive it.
Looking back over your day, when were you aware of your call to allyship and solidarity to those facing injustice and inequity? Were there instances when you felt called to “draw near” to harm or suffering you witnessed? What happened? How did you feel? What did you notice? Or do you notice now a moment when perhaps you missed the opportunity to draw near? Can you see now what prevented you from being drawn in?
Continue to walk through your day, taking a deeper look at your interactions and the world unfolding around you. Was there a moment you felt God’s presence when seeing the full personhood of another? Was there a moment when you can see how a bias you hold prevented you from recognizing the full personhood of someone? When did you offer care that reflects cura personalis, care for the whole person?
Were there any moments when you were aware of any privileges you hold? What did you do with that knowledge? Did you take any risks in order to stand up for what is right, or to reach out to someone? How did that feel? If you didn’t act, why not? How did that feel?
Some of these moments in our lives can be difficult to confront. Sometimes we do not act in ways as we would hope. We ask forgiveness, and we vow to make amends – to work to repair what was broken, to bring healing to harm, and to face each day with intention and commitment. Consider if there were any parts of your day you wish a different choice would have been made, or when you weren’t the colleague, mentor, friend, partner, fellow human you ought to have been. Take a moment to pray for forgiveness and begin to consider how you might act to make amends and strive toward healing and repair.
As we look to the day ahead, how is God inviting you? How is God inviting you? What kind of commitment or action are you being called to make in the day and days ahead? How are you being called to allyship --- to solidarity --- to right relationship with all God’s people? Pray for anything you need in order to pursue this call in the days to come. (pause)
As we conclude our Examen, rest in this space. Rest in Divine Love, rest in Divine mercy, rest in the knowledge that you, that each of us, are made in God’s image, and worthy of acceptance, respect, and dignity. Breathing in, receive that Divine Love. Breathing out, go forth to give that Love to those around you.
November 07, 2024
Examen: Allyship
SUMMARY: We are all called to practice solidarity and right-relationship in our daily lives. This Examen invites us to reflect on that call, and to open ourselves to future actions with clarity and hope.
PRESENTER: Ann Hillman, MDIV (she/her), Director, Health Sciences Campus Ministry
Transcript
As we begin our Examen today, I invite us to find a comfortable position and settle into whatever space you are in. Wherever you are, at whatever part of your day, give yourself some separation from the hecticness, and allow yourself the gift of being rooted and grounded in this time of reflection. Take a deep breath, or close your eyes, or open your hands in your lap, or do whatever else will help you to be fully present in this moment. See if your body could be even 5% more comfortable, relaxing and releasing any places of tension as best you can. (pause) Notice your breath entering and leaving your body. (pause) Continue to notice your in-breath and out-breath, calling you to the present moment – to what “is,” moment-by-moment. (pause) Breathing in, feel yourself expand, receiving openness. Breathing out, feel release, letting go of any heavy burdens or distractions. Breathing in --- breathing out --- we begin our Ignatian Examen, reflecting today on our call to solidarity and allyship.
We invite to mind and heart an awareness of Divine presence – in us and around us. Ask this Sacred presence to remain with you, and ask for openness and freedom to receive whatever is meant for you to contemplate today. Breathing in, we ask for insight and clarity; breathing out, we release judgement, and a need for control. We allow God to guide our heart and mind.
We now spend some time reviewing our day, perhaps the last 24 hours, or since waking this morning. Place yourself back into the time and space of where you are starting your reflection, and consider the events that unfolded. Walk through the day, and see what surfaces in your memory. What conversations, interactions, and events have transpired? Who has crossed your path? What feelings and emotions have been present with you over this time? As you review the last day, what sticks out?
We review our life, too, with a lens of how we may or may not have been aware of those most marginalized, targeted, or discriminated against in our society or community. We are called to center and uphold the God-given dignity of our community members who may be otherwise kept on the periphery. Can you call to mind who might be feeling particularly vulnerable at this time – especially because of prejudice or discrimination due to unjust systems of oppression and ignorance?
You yourself may feel a target of hatred or “othering.” Be gentle with yourself if you find yourself in this place, knowing that you, that all of us, are God’s beloved. See if Divine Love offers you any insights into your call to radical, inclusive love – to both give and receive it.
Looking back over your day, when were you aware of your call to allyship and solidarity to those facing injustice and inequity? Were there instances when you felt called to “draw near” to harm or suffering you witnessed? What happened? How did you feel? What did you notice? Or do you notice now a moment when perhaps you missed the opportunity to draw near? Can you see now what prevented you from being drawn in?
Continue to walk through your day, taking a deeper look at your interactions and the world unfolding around you. Was there a moment you felt God’s presence when seeing the full personhood of another? Was there a moment when you can see how a bias you hold prevented you from recognizing the full personhood of someone? When did you offer care that reflects cura personalis, care for the whole person?
Were there any moments when you were aware of any privileges you hold? What did you do with that knowledge? Did you take any risks in order to stand up for what is right, or to reach out to someone? How did that feel? If you didn’t act, why not? How did that feel?
Some of these moments in our lives can be difficult to confront. Sometimes we do not act in ways as we would hope. We ask forgiveness, and we vow to make amends – to work to repair what was broken, to bring healing to harm, and to face each day with intention and commitment. Consider if there were any parts of your day you wish a different choice would have been made, or when you weren’t the colleague, mentor, friend, partner, fellow human you ought to have been. Take a moment to pray for forgiveness and begin to consider how you might act to make amends and strive toward healing and repair.
As we look to the day ahead, how is God inviting you? How is God inviting you? What kind of commitment or action are you being called to make in the day and days ahead? How are you being called to allyship --- to solidarity --- to right relationship with all God’s people? Pray for anything you need in order to pursue this call in the days to come. (pause)
As we conclude our Examen, rest in this space. Rest in Divine Love, rest in Divine mercy, rest in the knowledge that you, that each of us, are made in God’s image, and worthy of acceptance, respect, and dignity. Breathing in, receive that Divine Love. Breathing out, go forth to give that Love to those around you.