Prayer of Examen: Getting God’s Perspective

When you’re wondering whether you’re doing a good job, who do you ask?  Or do you just know? How many of us really evaluate ourselves honestly? Don’t we tend to either beat ourselves up over a few squalls, or lapse into complacency when everything is smooth sailing?

Not only as a blogger, but as a theatre director–with actors looking at me for guidance, hoping that I know what I’m doing–and as a “mom” of a precocious and head-strong two-and-a-half year old…it is easy to look in all the wrong places for affirmation. To take my encouragement from the good rehearsal, or the obedient and affectionate child.

Lenten Thoughts, week 3

[Part of this article was originally published in February 2009.]

I’m not sure why my thoughts strayed to piano teaching the other morning when I was praying. (Why do my thoughts ever stray at that time? A perennial question.  Sigh.)  I recalled my conversation with Angela about the “hard parts” needing more practice than the “easy parts.”

“Think about it, honey,” I said.

“If some measures are really easy for you, and some give you lots of trouble, how does it help to just start at the beginning and play the piece straight through?  You’d always be playing the easy parts just as much as you do the hard ones.”