Welcome into the Examine as we review your day with God.
During this meditation,
I will lead you through each of the steps of the Examine.
After each step,
I will give you time to reflect.
Before we begin,
Find a comfortable place to sit.
Prepare yourself to receive the Holy Spirit.
Sit upright in a comfortable chair with your feet on the floor and your hands resting on your lap,
Palms up.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath from your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth.
Focus on your breath and relax your body.
Imagine God sitting across the table from you.
Perhaps you are sharing a coffee.
Allow yourself to enter into the presence of God.
Remember,
This is a conversation with God.
It is a time for you to reflect on your day and recall the times and places where God was present.
Continue taking deep breaths from your nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth.
Now call to mind three things from today that you are grateful for.
They don't have to be big things,
Just anything that blessed your day today.
Call each to mind one by one and savor them.
Thank God for the blessings.
Now let us reflect on your whole day,
From start to finish,
From your waking up to the end of your day.
Try to notice times and places where God has been.
Where did you accept God's invitation to be gracious,
Grateful,
And loving?
Where did you turn away from it?
Bring to mind specific people,
Places,
And events.
While continuing to focus on your breathing,
Let's start from your waking up this morning.
What was it like?
Were you awakened by the alarm clock?
Or did you wake up yourself?
What were your first thoughts?
Were you rushed?
Calm?
What was the beginning of your day like?
Where was God?
Now reflect on the rest of your morning.
What did you do?
Where did you notice God?
In what people,
Places,
Or events did you encounter God?
Take your time and just notice.
Let's now move on to the middle of your day.
Around lunchtime,
What was that time of day like?
As you review this part of your day,
What did you notice?
Where was God?
Now we are into the afternoon.
What happened?
To whom did you speak?
What did you do?
Where did you encounter God?
As you reflect on the evening hours,
At the end of your day,
Reflect on what happened.
Where was God present with you?
How did you respond to God?
As you continue to focus on your breathing,
I invite you to look back on your day with God.
You may have remembered some things that you regret.
Since none of us are perfect,
Give yourself grace.
Remember those regrets and sins now and bring them to God.
If you have harmed another,
Reach out to them as soon as possible and ask them for forgiveness.
But for now,
Just ask God for forgiveness and the grace to do better.
As you continue to focus on your breathing,
Call to mind what came up in your examen that was especially meaningful.
Just bring it to God.
Maybe you want to say something to God about it.
What does God have to say to you?
As we end this meditation,
Invite God to be with you as you sleep.
Ask God for the grace to see God tomorrow.
Amen.
