Life, Love and Laughter: The Spirituality of the Consciousness Examined

Brandon Quinn Mrs. Callahan Theology 9/23/04 Book Review For Life, Love, and Laughter By Fr. Jim Vlaun Life, Love, and Laughter is a great book for all wether you're a religion expert, or a lost soul looking to get in touch with God again. While telling Fr. Jim Vlaun's life lessons that he has learned over the years, it explains the five steps of the Consciousness Examen. The Consciousness Examen was taught and developed by St. Ignatious of Loyola in 1548. It is a book of spiritual exercises. It asks us to be fully aware of the presence of God while becoming more human and following the path he set for us. Fr. Jim Vlaun learned the Consciousness Examen from a very disheveled monk at a monastery where he was sent to think about leaving the seminary. His prayer life had been dead for over a year. While he was eating, the monk sensed what was wrong with Fr. Jim Vlaun, and gave him a pink card explaining the Consciousness Examen. From that point on Fr. Vlaun's spiritual life has prospered and he still has that same card posted next to his mirror. Everyday he looks at his bathroom mirror, and follows the five steps (he is also always reminded that the milk is in the fridge!, you'll understand). If you follow these five steps, along with your other spiritual practices, your sense of God in your life will grow and your spiritual life will prosper. It is a great book for all ages and walks of life. Just follow it's steps and your life will have more life, love, and laughter.

Father Jim Vlaun has written a book to help each of us see God in our lives. By connecting his own life experiences to the daily method of prayer and reflection founded by St. Ignatius Loyola, Father Jim has found a way to explain the five steps of the Consciousness Examen. During a retreat, Father Jim was given an index card with the five simple phrases printed on it. After several readings, he began to feel God in a new way. Life Love and Laughter is his way to share this with the reader. His everyday language, and true to life stories help the readers to understand each step. Father Jim tells us that God doesn't give more or less of himself to each person; we all get all of Him. It is our responsibility to allow God into our lives. The Consciousness Examen is one way to do this. Through prayer, reflection, survey of action, regret and resolution for the future, we are shown a way to get closer to God. After reading the book, I found myself thinking more about my words and actions, and the words and actions of those around me. The thoughts written by Father Jim in this book will stay with the reader long after they have finished the book.

The book Father Jim wrote was a great book with many different stories inside of it. I thought the book really showed you the meaning of life. The book showed you how to try to live your life spiritually. Which will really open your eyes to the beauty of the world and to help you see what you have been missing out on. Father Jim also writes about one of his first funerals tells you not to be so serious and don't be afraid of making mistakes because were only human. In father Jim's book I was touched by Father Jim's story of how his sister was dying from leukemia. His story led to a way to teach us how we have to thank God for the gifts he has given to us in different ways and what we take for granted. In Father Jim's story he begins to see all the gifts God has given to him. Some of the gifts of God could be your abilities, your personality or the very gift of life. The story teaches us that God has given us many gifts that we might not see right away, but everyone has been given a gift. This book is a great book to read if you want to find out more about The Conscious Examine and if you want to have a better understanding of how God works. This would be a great book for you.

This book is a must have for any one on the spiritual journey. Father Jim has succinctly stated the process of St. Ignatius in todays language. His integration of personal stories, situations, and his own struggles clearly makes this a touching a real work from the heart. If you are looking for a process to rekindle the flame or if you want to add to your present spiritual exercises you will find joy and inspiration in this book.

Fr. Jim captures the spirit of living with one foot rooted in the everyday and another rooted in the spiritual. I enjoyed it completely and ordered 45 more copies for my teaching staff. Bravo Fr. Jim! You have fed me with many wonderful anectdotes as well as food for thought that will last for years. Buy it today, you won't be able to put it down! Where is the next book?