A Thankfulness List

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Wednesday, May 27, 2015

A Thankfulness List

I am sad that May is drawing to a close. With the end of May comes the end of our reflections on Ignatian spirituality. The book Inner Compass is such a rich source of material for these posts! As Margaret Silf says, this meditation and prayer time can be done each night, and can draw the happenings of the day together.

The second step is Thankfulness. “Remember with thanksgiving the gifts of God to you today. . . . Be still in the memory, and offer God your thanks in your own way.” [1] Silf mentions such varied things as a meeting with a friend, a friendly shop assistant, a job done or a problem solved, a warm memory or a falling leaf. These various gifts, and so many more.

I am thinking of my “new best friend,” Joani. She and I hung out (as my teenage son would say), and then went for a fantastic dinner tonight. I am so grateful for her, and her friendship. Truly, Joani is a gift from God.

It’s true. I so seldom can see clearly when I am in the middle of things. And, boy, I do feel like I am wandering in a dark wood, more often than not. Or, is it a dark and foggy place, where I only can see a step or two ahead of me, even though I am holding a lantern to illuminate my way?

God helps me to keep my harried life together. (Usually.) I find that thankfulness is closely related to gratitude. A thankfulness list is similar to a gratitude list. Even when I can only see a little way in front of me, chances are that I also see things in my life for which I am thankful. Grateful. And, that can only help me in meditation and prayer.

Dear Lord, as I consider being thankful (or, grateful), help me to count each and every blessing You send my way. Lord, in Your mercy, hear my prayer.

(By the way, check out Joani’s blog at http://unorthodoxunhinged.com/ – it’s all good.)

@chaplaineliza

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Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .

[1] Silf, Margaret, Inner Compass: Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality (Chicago: Loyola Press, 1999), 59.

‘Twas One Week Before Christmas

matterofprayer blog post for Wednesday, December 18, 2013

In recent, past Decembers, I have been harried, rushed, almost frantic with everything that needed doing. But not this year. I’m so proud of myself—I have not been rushing around like a chicken with my head cut off. (Yay!)

However, I must confess that I did not set out to act like this—calm, peaceful, almost sedate. No, my December just turned out that way. So far, at least.

Perhaps the calm came to me as a byproduct of the email prayer list I moderate (St. Peter’s Prayer Project, an intercessory prayer ministry for members and friends of the church I belong to). Or, possibly, the peace could have come from my fairly regular Advent devotions (I’ve only missed two days this season so far—great batting average for me!). Then again, I have been joyfully consistent in my exercise at the YMCA gym in town—three times a week for several months. Yay! (My spiritual director knows and approves heartily.)

I am not quite sure what is helping me to maintain a modicum of peace and serenity this Advent season, but I am thankful for the wonderful feelings of calm and contentment that come to me more often than not. More often than in recent Decembers, I can tell you! Whatever (Whomever?) is helping me, may it continue. (Thanks, God!) I do appreciate the peace.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thanks for helping me to stay in the peace and calm of Your presence this Advent season—at least for a while. Forgive me when I stray from Your side, and from where You want me to be. I know I don’t always need to run away in a physical sense. I can stray mentally, spiritually and psychologically, too. But You help me to quiet my mind. You still the tumult in my soul. You allow that Peace that passes human understanding to enter my heart. Thank You, Prince of Peace. Amen, God!