Watching Our Game Film

The head coach stands at the podium after a tough loss. 

He’s being grilled by the media, who are looking for answers and accountability. 

A reporter asks him to comment on a specific play that was a crucial turning point in the game.

He replies, “I’ll have to look at the game film before I can give you a good answer on that.”

All good football teams review the film after each game, regardless of the result. They take advantage of the controlled, relaxed environment, away from the hectic pace of the game, to examine what went wrong. They uncover opportunities for improvement to work on at practice in the week ahead. They also look for positive results, to acknowledge things done well that they should keep doing, and to celebrate growth in areas of weakness. 

As a Christian, you are encouraged to do the same thing, even if you don’t know the difference between a quarterback and a halfback.

We all know that some days feel like wins. And some feel like losses.

Our version of “reviewing the game film” is called a Daily Examen.

The Daily Examen is a reflective prayer practice developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola to help us figure out what went right and what went wrong over the course of our day in the game called Life.

It’s simple to do. It usually happens at the end of the day, in a controlled, relaxed environment, away from the hectic pace of the day’s action. You start by taking some time to calm your heart and mind, beginning with a few deep breaths. Then follow these steps:

1. Give Thanks: Start with gratitude by recognizing and thanking God for the gifts and blessings of the day, big or small. 
2. Ask For Help: Ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of understanding, to help you see your day through God’s eyes. 
3. Review the Day: Walk through your day like you’re watching a movie. What stands out? Notice moments of joy, peace, struggle, or disturbance. Look for consolations (when you felt close to God or noticed Him working) and desolations (times when you felt far from God and from who you are called to be).
4. Respond & Repent: Whatever comes to mind, talk with God about it. What might He be telling you through your experiences and feelings? Acknowledge any shortcomings, and ask forgiveness for the times you weren’t at your best.
5. Look Ahead: Think about the next day. What are you excited about? What are you nervous about? Visualize yourself walking through the day with God and ask for the grace to live the next day better, resolving to grow in areas where you struggled. 

This doesn’t have to take a long time. When a football team watches the game film, all the commercials and time between plays are edited out. Even if you spend just 15 minutes on this, the benefits are timeless. It develops spiritual discipline, increases your awareness of God in daily life, helps discern His direction for you, and brings meaning to your experiences.

Football players strive to be champions.

We are called to be Saints.

Some days are wins. Some days feel like losses.

A Daily Examen is an invaluable tool to keep us on the road to glory.