Fully Alive

March 1, 2010

Yesterday, I heard the quote, “The Glory of God is a human person fully alive.”  These ten words have sat with me for 24 hours now.  They were apparently said by St. Irenaeus, who I remember studying, but I cannot remember much about besides a quick search of him on the Internet today. 

That being said, I am moved by this quote from him.  It speaks profoundly to me to be the authentic person that God calls each of us to be. It reminds me of a piece from Fr. David Flemming’s paraphrase of the First Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius:

Our only desire and our one choice should be this:
I want and I choose what better
leads to the deepening of God’s life in me.
If we can make choices that continue to move us in the direction of who God asks us to be and what God asks us to do, then we are moving towards being a “fully alive” human.  I know people who are “fully alive,” who are authentic, and who continue to chose what leads them to a deeper life in God.  When I am around these people, I cannot help but be drawn to them.  They serve as a reminder of Christ for me.  
Are we making steps towards being a human person fully alive? 
Are we making choices that leads to a deepening of God’s life in us? 
Who do we know that exemplifies the statement, “the Glory of God is a human person fully alive”?  What can we learn from them? 

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.

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2 Comments

  1. Roy Petitfils

    Thought and prayer provoking blog Becky. The second question really sticks with me this morning “Am I making choices that leads to a deepening of God’s life in me?” I’ll be chewing on that one today. Thanks for allowing God to use you!

    Reply
  2. Becky Eldredge

    Thanks, Roy! I appreciate your encouraging words.

    I hope that I get to meet you in person one day. Friends of mine keep saying really good things about you and your ministry!

    Reply

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