When it first came time for me to decide what religion course I would take in grade 12, the “Spiritual Exercises” course was at the bottom of my list. As a non-Catholic who had many questions about my own faith and spirituality, the idea of praying every night seemed tedious and irrelevant to me. Despite my initial hesitation, after hearing about fellow students’ and teachers’ positive experiences with the Exercises, the option became a serious consideration for me.
My final decision to participate in the Exercises was largely influenced by a desire I had to begin meditating on a regular basis. After developing an interest in Eastern philosophies/religions (especially Buddhism), I began to see meditation as a potentially valuable practice for me; along with offering a simple period of calm reflection amidst an often busy schedule, meditation could provide me with a deeper understanding of who I truly am. My newfound interest’s correspondence with the option of Spiritual Exercises made the choice of whether or not to take the course easy for me.
When I first began the Exercises, I was surprised with how valuable I found my meditation periods. The Exercises reignited my spirituality and allowed me to reflect on who I truly am. Furthermore, the routine of doing the examen at the same time every night gave me a new sense of order and structure in my life, which I found relaxing and comforting.
Week One's emphasis on St. Ignatius's "Principle and Foundation" helped me recognize what my priorities were in life and what they should be: instead of focusing individual success and enjoyment, I realized that the pursuit happiness and fulfillment in life involves much more than just the acquisition of wealth and traditional "success".
I have always experienced difficulty when reflecting upon my need for God: as someone who hasn’t had to face many serious challenges yet, I have sometimes thought that my life would be fine without having God in it. However, Week One addressed my often-lacking desire for God and helped reinvigorate it. I have no doubt that I will occasionally still have moments of uncertainty about my desire for God, but the Spiritual Exercises have helped me greatly thus far and will hopefully continue to do so.
The Spiritual Exercises have aided my growth in many different ways. I have developed a deeper understanding of my personality and spirituality and have also recognized areas that I want to change. For example, during Week One of the Exercises, I realized that I had become complacent with many aspects of my life: I didn’t have any desire to fix any issues or “right any wrongs” in my life. However, through the Exercises, my mindset completely changed: I acquired a newfound drive to be kinder to others and to seek justice within my own communities.
As a naturally introverted person, participating in new experiences is not always an easy thing for me to do. However, through the Exercises, I have been motivated to get to know God better by increasing my participation in my school and local community. My natural desire to stay at home and simply do nothing has been replaced with volunteering at my church and school more frequently. The daily examen has also made me aware that I feel the most fulfilled during my volunteering experiences: an observation which has only increased my participation even more.
My relationship with God has drastically changed through my time with the exercises thus far. Despite the challenges I’ve had with the traditional biblical view of God, the exercises have helped me see God in a new light. Through the daily examen, I have been able to recognize God’s presence in my life. After recognizing this presence in my life, the various exercises have helped me reflect on my relationship with God and have fruitful conversations with him. As someone finishing high school, my colloquies have often been focused on the questions “Am I on the right path” and “What do I want in life?” Ultimately, my relationship with God has become much more personal and comfortable since beginning the Spiritual Exercises.
In hindsight, taking the Spiritual Exercises was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. No other class I have ever been in has aided my growth as much as the Exercises have. As I continue the Exercises, I look forward to continuing my spiritual and religious growth. Although I have already come a long way, I have no doubt that the Exercises will continue to assist my growth well beyond the conclusion of the course.