a look back:

The weekly blogging has been a pleasant experience for me. Father Dziak's  questions were not what I expected and required a lot of thought and reflection.

Before studying the exercises in the class, I would view them as praying every day and reading the Bible. I did not see it as a time of extreme reflection and penance. Father Ted said in class that the questions I answered in the blogs  come from the exercises. These questions gave me a preview of how difficult, spiritually, the exercises really are. 

By answering these questions, I have improved my way on critical thinking and discernment. I understand what Ignatius was trying to accomplish in his religious journey and how he has changed the world with his religious goals. 

Ignatius’ main goal was to help save souls. If we look at what he has done, Ignatius has given the Society a lot to accomplish his goal. He gave us the Spiritual Exercises which helps people in discernment and their relationship with God. Ignatius also gave us schools. Jesuit education wants to shape its students; making men and women for others. 

The blog where we had to picture ourselves forty years from now was definitely the  hardest. I am a person that doesn’t really focus on the far future (I usually have short term goals and not a big one). Looking forty years into my life was not easy as it required a lot of though.

The blog I enjoyed the most was the creative blog. I learned in Father Ted’s response on this blog about the “Jesus is my Homeboy” company . I was surprised at the fact that it was ran by a Jesuit. 

Finally, I can say that I enjoyed the blogs. They helped me in my spiritual life, discernment, and about the life of Ignatius. Great addition to go with the course.

April 23, 2052 Journal,

I remembered my time at Loyola University New Orleans and the classes I took. Out of all the classes I took, I can relate to Ignatius Loyola because of the situation I am in. I seem to be in conflict with what the rest of my life is going to be. I am living with a family in New Orleans, since I fell in love with the city when I was in college. I got offered a new job in Arizona selling medical equipment. This job offers more money, but I have a family to consider in this decision as well. The class on Ignatius’ life taught me about discernment and the importance of making a sound decision. I’ve talked to my wife and children about the move and they approve of me taking this new job as long as my wife can find one too.

My wife is a five star chef and needless to say, she keeps my belly happy. It is hard to find a restaurant that will suit her style of cooking, so we might have to open one in Arizona resulting in closing the restaurant we have in New Orleans.

With the rules of discernment that I learned I hope to make the correct decision. So far, I have my goal set in mind which is to start my own brand of top notch medical equipment, and the more I do in the filed, the more I can begin to develop my own machines. I have talked to my parents about this and they encourage me as well to move to Arizona. I also talked to my brother, but he is crazy and suggested I take him with me.

I have yet to make my decision, but the earlier I make it, the better. I have two months to answer. My wife and I have also been discerning as to opening a restaurant in Arizona or not. I fear that we might take too long to get things in order and I’ll end up declining the job. I am indifferent though, I love New Orleans and my family.