A Jesuit's Guide to (Almost) Everything: 2011

WELCOME !

Thanks for joining the Wednesday Morning Book Group Blog! Our current selection is A Jesuits Guide to Almost Everything by Fr. James Martin. If you are interested in joining the conversation just leave your comments and we will respond in time. Each week as we meet, discussion questions will be posted to consider. (Questions taken from HarperOne Reading and Discussion Guide for The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything) If you are unable to meet for discussion please feel free to use the blog in it's place. (Please see this weeks meeting notes below)

Please click on the CHAPTERS links on the right hand side of the blog...that will take you to the appropriate chapter for discussion and reflection.

Also, if there is something that you want to add to the discussion, feel free to post and we will cover it when we meet.

Let me know if there is anything else you want to see here. I will be posting some other works from the author as well.

Time for Prayer

I am humbled in the reminder of prayer. I feel like a lazy pray-er. It isn't that I don't pray, it is that I often pray sitting, lying down, walking, driving. All well and good. But the Son of God knew the value of getting on his knees and so should I follow that example. Church is not the only place to remember that without the help and guidence of God I can not walk through my life.

Here is a link from Fr. Martins' trip with the reflection that reminded me of how I pray. I hope you reflect on it and feel free to leave a comment!

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150322373189889&id=62769149888&ref=notif&notif_t=feed_comment_reply#!/photo.php?fbid=10150270209581496&set=a.139618381495.120357.46899546495&type=1&theater

Walking the Gospels

Happy end of summer everyone! I hope this finds you all rested and restored!

Fr. Martin has recently returned from trip to the Holy Land and has shared many of his experiences with those of us who are on his facebook page. This is an extraordinary gift for those of us who have never been there but has tried in the true Ignatian spirit to place ourselves in the time and place of Jesus, his followers and disciples. I am going to try to link you now but since it is on FB I am not sure it will work. I am certain that he will have a link soon as he processes all of his experiences. I feel that many of us will reap the rewards of his journey and with the help of the Holy Spirit will glean some insight into our own relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

So here is to hoping you can see some!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/set/?set=a.10150304739036089.336786.591796088

Follow the 20 questions and the pictures at your own pace. There are some useful reflections. Let us know what you think!

NCCL Conference

Cheryl and Fr. Martin share a laugh! Fitting since this was all Cheryl's idea anyway!! Looks like they had fun!

Meeting 5/18

OK, I think we will never finish this book! I think part of the reason is that somewhere down deep, we may not want to. This book is a process and as such, as we read each part there seems to be things that speak to each one of us and as the book states, allows God to meet us where we are.

Yesterday found us missing two members...though one was on the other side of the door working. :) We had a very good discussion about Chapter 12, "What Should I Do?" In this chapter Fr. Martin addresses discernment. Discernment is the process that one follows to come to decisions using the spiritual tools of prayer and scripture or "listening" to God in the many ways that God communicates with us.

What should I do is a question that is often circling in the heads of those who are not actively receiving an income or someone who is trying to fulfill their role, (IE: mother, father, etc.) but wants to use their best judgement. It is a great question at the moment since two of us are stay at home moms, and one has been unemployed for a year...but it goes beyond the work situation. As addressed earlier in the book, it is hard to live in a society that values money and stature over values. For myself and I am sure Dawn, staying home with our children allows us to be of service in many other ways, and it allows me to write. It also allows us to alleviate some pressure on the household schedule. We want for nothing except perhaps quiet. All of our basic needs are provided and the things we live without, we can live without. For me, the ability to be present to my three daughters is what I need.

Another member of our group is healing from a hurt brought about by the last job she held. Perhaps God is giving her the time she needs to recharge her own batteries as she is a very dynamic individual. But in the meantime her experience and insights are valuable to us and she presents herself as a faithful servant of Christ each day...wherever that may take her.

For another, it is dealing with her grown children. How much support is too much support? She is completely reliant on God's presence in her life. For her, indifference is a very valuable tool as she watches her children try to fly on their own, at times a very emotional thing to witness.

In an attempt for all of us to be our "best selves" we are taking this book and this process slowly. It is funny how God draws us inward to hear him and then outward to see him in the support and the friendship that surrounds us.

Please share any experiences you wish on this blog. We will be listening.

Article

I thought this article by James Martin SJ in the Catholic Digest would interest you.

http://www.catholicdigest.com/articles/faith/religious_orders/2011/02-04/praying-with-the-jesuits

Meeting 4/27 Notes

Our last meeting found us missing one, but we made our way through the 9th and 10th chapter. Great conversation as usual. We hope our friend is feeling better and will join us for the next meeting!

Chapter 9 spoke of chastity, celibacy and love. The many ways that we love each other. In our own little groups we cited many opportunities to love and to love chastely. We discussed the concept of celibacy and the idea that one cannot be fulfilled unless they are sexually expressive. Since our little group really can see the ability to love chastely we did not struggle with the idea, but we did really appreciate Fr. Martin's insights into the book. The ability of someone who is unencumbered by a specific committed relationship being able to love many others equally. The gift of support that friendships provide. In these discussions we are reminded that as we say no to one thing, we also say yes to another. As someone who has benefited by specifically Fr. Martin's facebook page, I can tell you, he is a much sought after person. I could not imagine that he would be able to reach so many people if he had a marriage and family. Again, God places you where you are.

Chapter 10 was expanding on the idea of friendship and love. We discussed how sometimes it is difficult to love freely and to not expect more, or at least an "in kind" reciprocation. But as Ignatius teaches, when we love freely we allow the other person to expand as they need to, we allow the friend ship and love to grow without the sense of possession. This is something that I have struggled with, but as with other things, maturity pushes it away.

"Beware of condemning any mans action. Consider your neighbors intention, which is often honest, and innocent, even though his act seems bad in outward appearance." -- St. Ignatius of Loyola

Consider the statement above, not always our first reaction but maybe something we can remind ourselves of and perhaps someday, internalize.

I look forward to meeting with everyone on Wednesday for chapters 11 and 12. Please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond!

The Path of Independance

Here is a continuation of the Six Paths articles that Fr. Martin blogged for the Huffington Post.

Enjoy and share your impression!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-james-martin-sj/six-paths-to-god-the-path_1_b_810347.html

Funny Stuff!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5238122

Here is a story from All Things Considered with Fr. Martin.

The Path of Exploration

Fr. Martin has so kindly directed me to the wealth of articles he has! What a wonderful resource! But I feel like I am building a shrine to him here! ha! Anyway, here is the article on the Path of Spiritual Exploration.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-james-martin-sj/six-paths-to-god-the-path_4_b_810359.html

The Path of Belief

Here is the second article and I realize these are out of order but nonetheless useful! What do you think?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-james-martin-sj/six-paths-to-god-the-path_b_805953.html

Article to Consider

If you are on Facebook and are not a friend of Fr. Martin's, I encourage you to become one. Aside from additional insight to this book, he gives frequent daily updates on various topics and and is agreat resource for online spiritual sites.

Here is an article regarding one of the Six Paths: The Path of Confusion. I will try to also post the others....one at a time.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-james-martin-sj/six-paths-to-god-the-path_5_b_810362.html

Hopefully the link works!! :)