Let Us See God in All We Say and Do

Every afternoon at 4:00, when the final school bell rings, our campus minister comes on to say prayer. We always do some form of the examen, an Ignatian tradition. We are asked to think back over our day as if it was a movie, and notice our reaction to different events.

How did we feel when we woke up? What made us upset today? Where could we have done better? What was the best part of our day? Why?

While these are some heavy questions for 4:00 when really the only thing any of us want to do is get out of school, they have caused me to be much more reflective about my time here, which is definitely something I wanted to get out of this year. Mr. Martin ends each prayer with the phrase "let us see God in all we say and do."

This is something intrinsically Ignatian, the idea that we would want to see God in all we say and do. Part of Jesuit spirituality is finding God in everything, and in the past week or so, this idea has really sunk into my personal prayer life. I look to find God in every situation, whether it's a joyful moment filled with grace, or a frustrating or upsetting moment.

One of the Jesuit novices who has been spending time at CRJ told me something that has stuck with me over the past few days. An older Jesuit told it to him, and I think it's hilarious (and true): High school sophomores are Jesus Christ in His least recognizable form.

While I'm blessed enough to not teach any sophomores, I feel the same way sometimes about any given student. Difficult or frustrating interactions are a part of being a high school teacher, but it can be increasingly difficult to be simultaneously frustrated and find something sacred about a situation. Sometimes I am convinced that God is nowhere to be found in my 5th period class... but sometimes I am absolutely certain that I can feel His presence.

Remembering that God is in everything I say and do somehow is a relieving thought. When I'm anxious about something, I have been able to remember that God is with me, and I need to trust that He wouldn't lead me down a path I couldn't travel.

So as I prepare to spend my first Thanksgiving away from home, I'll remember that God is with me. I know He will be in our house filled with 18 JVs on Thursday, all sacrificing our family time to do His will. Happy almost-Thanksgiving, and let us see God in all we say and do.