Paul Brian Campbell, SJ at People for Others posted this for the Feast of St. Ignatius on Sunday, July 31st. Since reading it, I cannot stop thinking of the question Ignatius posed, “How are you doing right now?” Read below to find out more:
“When Ignatius of Loyola met people for the first time, he often asked them, “How are you doing right now?” This question helped them to reflect on upon their lives and often sparked them to reflect on the blessedness of their lives.
The good news is that there is an endless supply of blessedness. We live in a world drenched in grace. Our task is to awaken in others an awareness of this blessedness and help it to become even more alive for them. Our ultimate measure of success is the degree to which we can help others, even as they struggle to overcome many difficulties, to experience their God-given blessedness.
We respect and honor each individual. We don’t preach. We understand that people are doing their best, and we want to help them. Think about asking the people you encounter, “How are you doing right now?” Invite others to see their blessedness.”
How can we invite others to see their life as gift?
Becky Eldredge
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.
By first understanding that we really need what they have to give. It is the only way to authentically appreciate their blessedness. The biggest challenge for me is to allow myself to be ministered to, yet this is what is required to make the invitation a genuine one.
Dee, well said! Your words hold a challenge and invitation for me also. I often struggle to let others minister to me.