Discernment – what is it?
It is a process that takes place between you and God. Throughout this process one needs to
- listen to God’s purpose
- listen to your hear
- listen to the data available
- listen to the decision being made in you
Listen to God’s purpose
“God has shown you, O people, what is good. And what does God ask of you? To act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
God’s purpose continues to be revealed to us in Jesus Christ and in the disciples who choose to live the way of Jesus today. What does God want of us today? God wants healing of the brokenness in the world, peace for those threatened by violence, malnourishment, and freedom for the oppressed. Mother Theresa, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others have been committed to using their lives in a way that makes God’s mission possible. It was important to these followers to make a difference in the world.
Do you have a passion for making God’s love visible? Do you sense within yourself a deep desire to make a difference in the world?
Listen to your heart
You hold within yourself the decision about your life choices/decisions. Take the time to be quiet and become centered. Listen and then ask yourself these questions:
- What do I want most in life?
- What are my greatest fears?
- What are my deepest hopes?
- What makes me most alive?
- What is my image of God?
- When I imagine myself in religious life, what feelings arise in me?
- What gifts would I bring to religious life?
- Can I see myself living and working in a group?
- When I picture myself five years from now, what images arise? What feelings come to me?
Listen to the data available
Decision making isn’t easy. You need to get all the information/data available to you, trust your heart and your listening to God’s Spirit within you.
Discernment is a sacred process and you need information and help in discerning. You might find some of the following suggestions helpful:
- Read books or articles on founders and foundresses of religious communities and learn what their followers do in today’s world.
- Visit various houses of religious communities. What are these women like? How are their gifts to the Church being used now?
- Talk to these women about what you hope to be or do, about community, their mission.
Listen to the decision being made in you
God wants fullness of life for all people. There are many forces in the world that are counter to this purpose. In making an important decision, be sure that it is life giving for you so that it will empower you to be a life giver for others.
As you continue to move toward making a life decision and have listened to God’s purpose, to your heart, and the information available (including feedback from people you’ve consulted), live with the probable decision for a little while. Reflect on the following questions as you imagine yourself making a life choice and taking the appropriate steps to pursue this choice:
- Am I at peace with this decision?
- Do I feel that this choice is in harmony with my gifts and personality?
- Do I feel freed by this decision?
- If this decision doesn’t work out, can I imagine other options?
- Do I feel energized by the possibility for mission – in the particular way my decision offers?
