Finding God in the Everyday

If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint. 

-Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Why begin today's entry with this quote? Well, as it happens, today is the feast of Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. It was not until last summer, actually, that I became aware of St. Ignatius and his forms of prayer. (I've always been accustomed to the Salesian order, having gone to a Salesian high school, served as a counselor at a Salesian summer camp, and, finally, worked at a Salesian elementary school. Yes, once a Salesian, always a Salesian.)

Quite frankly, I find Ignatian prayer/spirituality (I recommend using the Examen) a most marvelous and meaningful addition to prayer life because at its heart is the idea of God being intimately involved in our lives in even the smallest and most mundane ways.

And it is about taking time to reflect on and recognize those instances where God has made himself truly present to us, whether it be through a friend, through nature, through work, or even through a complete stranger.

I personally like finding God in nature...

Flowers in Loose Park, Kansas City

view from the dock, Michigan

Now, doesn't thinking about God's presence in our lives in such a manner make the day just that much better?