Lately I keep hearing about awareness. It is so easy for me to run through my life just keeping up with obligations. I'm relieved at the end of the day that I got the kids everywhere they needed to be, everyone was fed and the basics for survival happened. What if I stop, however, and take a look around? What is going on around me? What is God doing around me? How much am I missing due to my hurried pace of life?
I feel as if there is something beautiful going on, if only I will take the time to pause, breathe in and listen. There is a daily practice called a "Daily Examen". At the end of the day, the invitation is to look back over your day and ask yourself a few questions. "When did I feel closest to God today?" "When did I feel the farthest from God today?" "When was I the most myself today?" "When was I the least myself today?" "What was my happiest moment?" "What was my least happy moment?" The idea is just to take a couple of the questions, sit before God and reflect on your day together. It allows you to learn a little bit about yourself, about you and God, and about how God might be moving and speaking in your life.
It really is a beautiful thing to take time to look over your day. In the rush of everyday life, it often feels like a day is not truly lived or does not have much meaning if it has not been given some thought to its purpose.
This is a practice I am trying to incorporate at least a couple of times per week. It is awakening me to God and His greater purposes for me.
