Harvesting the Past

Do you know the story of Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order? A nobleman, he spent his early life as a soldier. He was severely wounded in battle. While recovering from surgery, he underwent a spiritual conversion and discerned a call to the religious life. After times of pilgrimage and spiritual discernment, he founded the Jesuits as a religious order to create schools, colleges, and seminaries across Europe.

As a former soldier, Ignatius paid particular attention to the spiritual formation of his recruits and recorded his method in the Spiritual Exercises (1548). In time, the method has become known as Ignatian spirituality.

“In God’s economy, nothing is wasted” is a statement popularized largely through Alcoholics Anonymous (often attributed to co-founder Bill W.) to express how personal struggles, failures, and hardships can still serve a purpose in growth and recovery.

When I think about Ignatius, I see a person who reflected upon his service and suffering then integrated them into his Christian faith. One of the lessons he was able to share is summed up in this prayer known as the Suspice (receive, take up), a prayer of releasing oneself to God.

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
all I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

As you reflect on your rich life experiences today, what is God showing you that might bring you closer to God today?

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