Sin, the Examen, and Daring Greatly
Sin is a difficult topic to consider. Interestingly, sin is something that every person thinks about – at least from time to time – but no one really likes others to talk about. Sin may have an aspect of willful rebellion, but it also can simply mean a mistake, a struggle, a way that life falls short of perfection. Traditionally, a recognition of one’s sins – one’s mistakes – was connected to the reaction of guilt. Guilt can be a powerful motivator to change one’s behavior, and the point of recognizing one’s own sin is not to wallow in failure.
The point is to change.
Unfortunately, guilt does not seem to resonate as deeply with many people today. They, instead, connect recognition of sin to feelings of shame which is irreparably damaging. Social scientist and author Brené Brown has a marvelous series of books which deal with the tyranny of shame in our culture. You can’t go wrong with I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t), The Gifts of Imperfection, or Rising Strong; however, my favorite book of hers is definitely Daring Greatly.
In Daring Greatly, Brown defines shame as “the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.” You may see in the definition the inherent problem of connecting sin and shame. Guilt is about something I’ve done, but shame is about the way that I am. As a result, connecting sin and shame robs us of the power to do anything about our situation – to change. Due to the shift in our culture, there are many traditional Christian spiritual practices which focus on sin that are in need of a bit of translation.
One such practice is the Ignatian Examen (or Examination) which is an integral part of the Ignatian Exercises. These exercises were developed in the 16th century by St. Ignatius of Loyola as the basis of spiritual development for initiates in his new order, the Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits. For the time, these exercises were quite practical and concrete spiritual practices, and they continue to form the foundation for many contemplative retreats both inside and outside of the Jesuit order. The Examen itself is a short exercise – a way of taking stock – of the sin in one’s life. Due to our present-day focus on shame, it may be difficult to see the value in such an exercise.
In order to recapture the original spirit of the practice, I’ve provided below a “translated” version of the Examen. The point we are seeking is that the struggles, difficulties, and weaknesses of our lives are the places that God can show up and bring change. Our struggles can be opportunities to get past our own self-importance in order to see God a little more clearly … if we’ll allow it.
Why not give this practice a try this week?
The Examination
(Practice every day; multiple time a day, if possible. 5-10 minutes is usually enough time)
Take 5 Deep Breaths
Pray: “Thank you, God, for breath today!”
Say/Think/Write: “What am I struggling with today?
- Choices
- Feelings (Emotions)
- Thoughts
- Sensations (Body) – i.e., sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch (What is your body telling you today?)
Are you tense, relaxed, happy, sad, angry, calm, energetic, exhausted, satisfied, discontent?
How might your choices, feelings, thoughts, and sensations connect to your struggles right now?
Feel free to write, speak, or think your answers to these questions whichever method is most memorable for you.
Pray: “God, I am struggling with ______ today. Help me in the way that you see is best.”
Take 5 Deep Breaths