The spiritual life requires courageous ventures into what is new, unknown, and uncomfortable. There, in the process of discovery, meaning is to be found–or rather, created. Faith is about trust founded on remembering how God has been with us in the past, so we have courage as we follow the Holy Spirit into the new life God is creating through us in the present.

Here is de Mello’s spiritual exercise for new beginnings.

Peace,
Pr Craig

I imagine that today I am to die.

I ask for some time alone and write down for my friends a sort of testament for which the points that follow could serve as chapter titles.

1.  These things I have loved in life:

Things I tasted,

looked at,
smelled,
heard,
touched.

2.  These experiences I have cherished:

3. These ideas have brought me liberation:

4.  These beliefs I have outgrown:

5.  These convictions I have lived by:

Insights into God,
the world,
human nature,
Jesus Christ,
love,
religion,
prayer.

8.  These risks I took,
these dangers I have courted:

9.  These sufferings have seasoned me:

10.  These lessons life has taught me:

11.  These influences have shaped my life (persons, occupations, books, events):

12.  These scripture texts have lit my path:

I choose an ending for this document:
a poem–my own or someone else’s;
or a prayer;
a sketch
or a picture from a magazine;
a scripture text;
or anything that I judge would be
an apt conclusion to my testament.