Nothing at all about my life has been predictable in any way, shape, or form, since I embarked upon the Ignatian Exercises five years ago.
I've had a wonderful, wonderful little retreat. Three days away, three meetings with my spiritual director over the course of the week, all of it interrupted by some time set aside to mark the death of a friend last night and then a doctor's visit today for a strep diagnosis. I got really, really sick ~
and the last thing in the world, far more unlikely than strep throat (where on earth did that come from?), was that I would somehow find my way into four days of prayer toward The Call of the King meditation from the Second Week of the Exercises. A lot of women don't care for that one, and I can't claim that it has ever really resonated with me.
All I had set out to do was to see whether my grief over my son's death was going to preclude a week-long summer retreat, and maybe to make a little headway on the post-seminary discernment process.
And it seems that I got caught up in a wonderfully renewed relationship with someone who had been silent for a really, really long time.
I've had a wonderful, wonderful little retreat. Three days away, three meetings with my spiritual director over the course of the week, all of it interrupted by some time set aside to mark the death of a friend last night and then a doctor's visit today for a strep diagnosis. I got really, really sick ~
and the last thing in the world, far more unlikely than strep throat (where on earth did that come from?), was that I would somehow find my way into four days of prayer toward The Call of the King meditation from the Second Week of the Exercises. A lot of women don't care for that one, and I can't claim that it has ever really resonated with me.
All I had set out to do was to see whether my grief over my son's death was going to preclude a week-long summer retreat, and maybe to make a little headway on the post-seminary discernment process.
And it seems that I got caught up in a wonderfully renewed relationship with someone who had been silent for a really, really long time.
Robin, I'm going to go ahead and write about those presentations right now. Some of it will be to you because I want you to know how important your writings were to me and this class. Thank you,thank you, thank you.
ReplyDeleteRobin... I mentioned Call of The King on Monday when I spoke about imaginative prayer. There are definitely some things that do not resonate with all. I got quite a negative reaction to parts of the Principle and Foundation, but I wasn't exactly surprised. I am glad that other parts of what Ignatius said have been a blessing to my friends.
ReplyDelete:)joy sneaks in
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with the Ignatian Exercises or the Call of the King--but you certainly have piqued my interest in them.
ReplyDeleteI do know that the really awesome thing about God's call is that it continues even when we are not able to hear, listen or respond to it.
" For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." Romans 11: 29.
:-)
Rejoicing with you! And remembering I need to schedule my own little test retreat pdq...
ReplyDeleteThanks be to God! I'm so happy for both of you. =)
ReplyDeleteI've read this post a half-dozen times before commenting, but all I can think to tell you is that my heart swells with joy to read this.
ReplyDelete