Sleeping with Bread: High lights and low lights

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

High lights and low lights

This past week Mary Lue and I have both been out of town on business trips. Sadly our trips did not bring us to the same city, if that were the case - we'd been jumping for joy to meet face to face! Apologies for being late in host posting, but with a few days away, there is always a great deal of catch up when coming home.

As I look over my past week, I begin thinking in terms of the hi-lights, or speakers,people, moments, that stood out, were especially encouraging, or the most thought provoking in one way or another. As for the specifics of all that, I'll save for my own SWB post.

No matter where you "traveled" this last week, what were the low-lights and high-lights? In this season that is getting darker and more chilly by each dawn, the light is something we all are drawn a little more to. What light was capturing your attention this week?

I hope you've had a great week - I've missed the SWB crew. Let's have a moment and hear what bread/light you are holding on to today.

Although the examen is a Christian practice, I would hope that anyone who has something to share would feel welcome here. Also, if you don't have your own blog and would like to participate, share your bread in the comments. To holding on to what gives life,
Peace,
Lamont

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What is Sleeping with Bread?

During the bombing raids of WWII, thousands of children were orphaned and left to starve. The fortunate ones were rescued and placed in refugee camps where they received food and good care. But many of these children who had lost so much could not sleep at night. They feared waking up to find themselves once again homeless and without food. Nothing seemed to reassure them. Finally, someone hit upon the idea of giving each child a piece of bread to hold at bedtime. Holding their bread, these children could finally sleep in peace. All through the night the bread reminded them, "Today I ate and I will eat again tomorrow." (Linn, Dennis et al, Sleeping With Bread, p.l)

These are the beginning words of a book that introduced me to a practice called the examen. The orphans held on to what nourished them and were thus able to sleep peacefully at night. The examen, based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, helps a person hold onto what spiritually nourishes him by looking at what is giving him consolation in his life or causing him desolation. It allows someone to express his gratitude to God for the good stuff and turn to him for solace for the bad stuff. It is quite simple. You simply ask yourself, in the last day/week/month what gave me consolation and what caused me desolation.

How do you do it?

Sleeping with Bread is a Monday meme. You can participate in one of two ways: 1) Pick one of the above examen question sets and answer it in the comments section of my SWB post; or, 2) Create your own Sleeping with Bread post. You are welcome to right click on the Sleeping with Bread button and save it to your own computer before uploading into your post. Then, make sure you come back and put the link to your post in the automated Mr. Linky form at the end of the current SWB post. I hope you will join me and my fellow bakers as we Sleep with Bread on Mondays!