Three stone masons in the Middle Ages were hard at work when a visitor came along and asked them what they were doing. The first stone mason, with sweat beading his brow, grumbled, “I am cutting this stone”; the second stone mason, though less distraught, responded with a deep sigh, “I am building a parapet”. The third stone mason, replied with a radiant face, “I am building a beautiful cathedral that will glorify God for centuries to come”.
‘Finding God in all things’ is at the core of the spirituality of St Ignatius of Loyola. It is rooted in our growing awareness that God can be found in everyone, in every place and in everything. When we learn to pay more attention to God, we become more thankful and reverent, and through this we become more devoted and more deeply in love with our Creator. The reflective attitude of the third stone mason gave meaning to his work and a sense of fulfilment, knowing that even in simply cutting stone he was part of God’s plan.
In the midst of a hyperactive culture obsessed with doing rather than being, obsessed with mass production rather that a equilibrated lifestyle, we can easily slide in an era of dull existentialism where we become nothing more that the robotic arms that build the very gadgets that consume most of our so-called ‘free time’.
Why does Socrates make such a bold, unequivocal statement that “the unexamined life is not worth living”? Because he believed that the purpose of human life is personal and spiritual growth. We are unable to grow toward greater understanding of our true nature unless we take the time to examine and reflect upon our life.
It may not be surprising that a recurring theme is emerging in the Holy Father’s pontificate – the importance of spiritual direction. In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (‘The Joy of the Gospel’), he pronounces that: “In our world, ordained ministers and other pastoral workers can make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze.
“The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this ‘art of accompaniment’, which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other. The pace of this accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life” (169).
Some think they are free if they avoid God; they fail to see that they remain homeless. They cease being pilgrims and become drifters- Pope Francis
The aim of spiritual direction is to cultivate one’s ability to discern God’s presence in one’s life – to notice and appreciate moments of holiness, to maintain an awareness of the interconnectedness of all things, to explore ways to be open to the Divine in challenging and difficult moments as well as in joyful ones. The director or guide serves as a companion and witness, someone who helps us discern the divine and integrate that awareness in our daily life. Spiritual guidance is a journey of deep healing and an affirmation of holiness and indeed ‘wholeness’, the sacred, and the mystery of all of life.
In the words of the Holy Father: “Some people think they are free if they can avoid God; they fail to see that they remain existentially orphaned, helpless, homeless. They cease being pilgrims and become drifters, flitting around themselves and never getting anywhere” (170).
We all have an inner need to find God and to understand the mystery of who He is. Every person’s quest for purpose, meaning and hope is, at its core, the quest to understand God and His plan for us.
In humility, the Lord expects us to make an effort to seek out the guidance of trained priests, religious or lay spiritual guides who can encourage us to mature spiritually and help us discern the most appropriate ways to serve God in our lives… a bond that involves a humble disclosure of the heart, an openness to the counsel of another, and a mutual availability to the Lord.
gordon@atomserve.net
Gordon Vassallo is an accredited spiritual guide at the Centre of Ignatian Spirituality.