Seeing God in Everything

When I feel God with me every moment, I remember to be faithful: to love God with all my heart and love others as I love myself (Matthew 22:37-40).

When there’s a big event, it’s easy to show God’s love. When I am going about my everyday tasks, it’s easy to ask only myself what to do. Of course, there are times when I ignore my conscience and do what I know I should not.

An Ignatian Prayer called the Examen has helped me find God in everything, everywhere, and every time. I set aside a time every day (or nearly) “for thankful reflection on where God is in my everyday life” (Jim Manney, “Examen Prayer Card”).

This daily practice of intentionally paying attention to God becomes a habit of remembering that God is with me all day.. I feel Jesus walking, standing, or sitting beside me, whatever I’m doing. Being with Jesus helps me notice the beauty of his creation, even in small things.

I notice others more. How are they feeling? What might they need? When I’m faced with a decision, I turn to Jesus and consider what He thinks is best. It helps me stop and think about what I’m about to say: Will it make the person I’m with feel better or worse? Am I saying it for myself or for them?

Here are a few examples of what I mean:

Every morning, I make a latte for my husband. One day, I noticed there is a beautiful crisscross pattern in the water as it pours from the kettle to the pitcher. I call it “water diamonds.” It’s beautiful, and so unnecessary! I marvel at the beauty of God’s creation, even in the flow of water from one vessel to another.

Quite a few years ago, my brother died of ALS. Years later, his wife, Kathy, and my other sister-in-law, Tricia, were part of a family phone call. Kathy told us about helping to care for her brother’s wife, who was also dying of ALS. Tricia said, “That must be hard for you, Kathy. It must bring up a lot of memories.” I was struck by Tricia’s notice. I was listening sympathetically but had not made that connection. She noticed, and it reminded me, too.

Years ago, my husband and I went to our neighbor’s funeral.. At the funeral, one person after another after another stood up to tell of small ways Ethel had helped them. She didn’t save the world, she wasn’t a hero, she was faithful in small things. She noticed what would help, and did it. She was faithful in the everyday.

Other daily habits can help you keep good intentions in the foreground. Gratitude lists, journaling, drawing, and other practices are effective. The Examen has been the best practice for me and many others.

In my personal practice of the Examen, I use the following prompts:

• Give thanks. Give thanks for something in the past day, even if it’s small.
• Review. Review what happened in the past 24 hours or so and how you felt about it. Don’t focus on remembering everything — see what God causes to bubble up.
• Reflect. Reflect on the question of consolation (what made you feel alive and connected to God) and desolation (what made you feel isolated or far from God). 
• Mend. Listen to where you need mending or need to make amends. Consider where there was hurt,  misunderstanding, or brokenness.
• Intend. Set an intention and move on with love. Make peace with the day and move on with fresh intentions, with Jesus at your side. With what attitude and purpose do you want to take your next steps? 
• Gratitude (again). Give thanks again for whatever occurs to you, as a reminder that you are not alone, that God is with you and loves you just as you are.

I sit in silence after each prompt, thinking, listening, talking to God, or just breathing. Are my thoughts sent from God? Do they fit within God’s commandments to love him and love others?

When I can, I make the prayer more of a ritual with other practices. See the attached handout for more details.

This simple, short practice puts my connection to God in the foreground of my mind. It makes me think more of where I see God working in my life, moment by moment. In turn, that makes it a lifetime habit to notice God in everything. And that helps me be faithful even in the ordinary.