Invitations Toward Uncertainty
We speak about “invitations” quite a bit in Ignatian spirituality. This language reflects our autonomy in choice, as well as God’s gentle, loving nature. The Spirit may offer something to us, but it’s up to us to choose whether or not to accept. God isn’t in the business of forcing people into things they don’t want to do.
But what is an invitation from the Spirit? How will you recognize it? And what if you aren’t sure how to respond?
Imagine that you’re standing in a long hallway. There are doors all around you. Some are wide open, with a clear view inside as you pass by. Others are slightly ajar, offering just a glimpse. Some may be closed; when you check the knob, they may open willingly, or maybe they are locked or the handle sticks a bit before opening.
Beyond each of these doors are more rooms with their own doors. Though you might think you see clearly through an open door in your hallway, you can never really know the fullness of what lies in that room, or the rooms beyond it.
These doors are the choices we have for how to live our lives. Try as we might to predict or control our situation, we all know that this is impossible. Uncertainty is all around us—including Divine invitations. The Spirit may call us toward things that are unknown or uncomfortable. Yet the decision is always ours to hold, even in the midst of what may feel like a disruptive transformation of the Spirit.
Divine invitations often arrive quietly, in the form of subtle feelings: curiosity, restlessness, longing, or repeated nudges. A line from a book or song that catches your attention, spotting a meaningful animal on a walk, or a comment from a friend can be signposts pointing toward an invitation in your life. Praying a daily Examen prayer can be one way of forming the habit of noticing these small movements of the Spirit in your life.
This process of invitation and discernment can be frustratingly slow compared to what we might expect. If we are called us to something, shouldn’t it be big, flashy, and showy? Sometimes it may be. But more often than not, God meets us where we are in our ordinariness. Being present to ourselves and those around us, exactly as we are, is how we learn to meet the Spirit in our everyday lives.
Discerning the Spirit’s movement is not easy or simple, but it is a special way to nurture a deepening spiritual life. Today, we at Sacred Ground offer you an invitation: consider loosening your grip on certainty and be open to stepping into the unknown.
If you’re ready to explore a nudge toward spiritual transformation and deep listening in your own life, we welcome you to join us at our online open house on June 15th. You’ll hear from faculty and alumni of our Spiritual Direction Formation and Training Program and will connect with other spiritual seekers. Learn more and register here.