Integrating Discernment Of Life And Spiritual Direction Practice

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Integrating Discernment in Life and Spiritual Direction Practice

In the book, Eyes To See, Ears To Hear, Lonsdale describes Ignatius’ way of decision making in the Spirit as consolation and desolation. Where the world plays out romantic heroism, success and individualism, as opposed to servanthood, feeding the poor and coming together in community. Spiritual blindness encumbers those who are willing to serve God, and at best, Christian life seems as though it is about making good choices, possible like other great Christians. However, Ignatius’ exercise of discernment allow freedom to see and hear the movement of the Spirit in deep places in our own stirring relationship with God.
Ignatius was influenced at an early age to be a hero with sword, a dream of fighting to win. He was a vain, hot headed soldier, and when he became wounded in the Spanish army fighting in Pamplona against the French, he wanted to look good in his tights and then he succumbs to operations to make his shattered leg look good and he thought this would impress the women.
Ignatius reminds me of Paul who murdered Christians and became change. Although Ignatius was not changed instantly, he was similar in situation as that he killed and fought to win a battle, then saw Jesus and drew near to Him. Or similar to Peter who cut off the ear of Malchus, the high Priest’s servant, ready to go to battle and save.
During this time of healing, Ignatius read two books, The Life of the Saints and The Life of Christ, which opened his spirit to the Spirit of God. He dreamed of heroism, the favor of a beautiful women and found that it brought him into depression or desolation, and the books about saints and contemplating Jesus his heart is engaged and this leaves Ignat...

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...hour, day or situation on what is life-giving and what is life-threatening and sitting lightly to all that happens, ready to let go of what is not or no longer.
I particularly like silf’s principal on letting the best in me decide. The core of me would like to choose the best, and when I find place my best of me on one side and place the worst of me on the other side of a scale. I may make my choice and see where the choice is found on the scale. I am able to pray through this and modify my choice changing the scale toward the best of me. This is a process that I have practiced using writing. I write out what I want to say and rewrite what I want to say to make the words the best of me. As I am transformed into becoming more and more like Jesus I find that this exercise has given me a prayerful process of contemplation when situations arise that feel complex.

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