What’s the greatest present you may have ever acquired?
This query is a favourite icebreaker query, and I’m all the time stumped when I attempt to reply it. As most icebreakers contain fast considering, I normally give a superficial reply that, upon additional reflection, just isn’t truly a real one.
The issues that all the time come to thoughts within the second are presents like the primary laptop I acquired again in 1994, full with dial-up Web and one of many earliest variations of Microsoft Home windows. Did I really feel grown up and essential once I noticed that present below the tree! I additionally take into consideration the early Christmas present of tickets to a bowl sport in Florida throughout my junior yr in school. My school mates and I had a blast throughout that journey. Today, as a rule, I default to saying that the most effective present I ever acquired was my youngsters, who had been all born only a couple weeks after the Christmas season. What a stereotypical mother reply, proper?
However what actually is the reply? What’s the greatest present I’ve ever acquired? Is it actually one thing tangible like a pc or airline ticket, even when these tangible issues carried intangible graces with them? Or is it one thing deeper?
I spent a while considering this query as I ready this publish, contemplating what present has impacted my life essentially the most up to now. I stored coming again to at least one factor particularly: Ignatian spirituality. I acquired this present little by little over my first few years at a Jesuit faculty, and I’ve continued to unpack the graces of this present ever since.
Over the previous 20 years, Ignatian spirituality has remodeled my life. First, it helped me come to know myself as a beloved little one of God, somebody who’s beloved as I’m, it doesn’t matter what. Then, over time, partaking with it delivered to the floor my deepest needs and confirmed me how a lot what I need issues to the larger image of my life. It helped me uncover the distinctive presents God gave me, presents that solely I can contribute to the world. Graces together with confidence, understanding, self-knowledge, and braveness that had been showered on me by means of my engagement with the Non secular Workout routines helped open my eyes to acknowledge the right particular person for me to journey by means of this life with, my husband, Joey. Ignatian spirituality additionally gave me the instruments to see what outstanding youngsters God gifted my husband and me with and helped me discern the most effective methods to awaken them to their very own belovedness and the presents they need to share with this world.
I’m not certain how this reply will fare subsequent time that icebreaker query exhibits up, however I believe that recognizing and naming the impression of the present of Ignatian spirituality in my life is essential. I additionally know that I can not cease there. In spite of everything, the most effective presents are supposed to be shared!
As I journey by means of this Introduction season, I’m contemplating easy methods to share this present extra deliberately with the world all through the brand new liturgical yr. I’m asking God and myself, What are the most effective methods I pays ahead this present and its life-changing nature?
What’s the greatest present you may have ever acquired? How will you pay it ahead as we start a brand new liturgical yr collectively?