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Discernment|
There is no question that God has a plan for our lives, a plan for good. Nor is there any doubt that his plan for us includes even the smallest details of our lives. But kooky, frivolous things need not be “discerned”. God gave us good minds – made in his own image – do the work of decision making. Details do matter, but we do not need a direct “word” from God about every move we make. Discernment will be both necessary and desirable in the bigger decisions of life – choosing our state in life, deciding where to work or where to live. For many of us, those decisions were made long ago and should not be revisited, but since finding, knowing and following God’s will in our everyday lives is a top priority, Scripture encourages us to “get our minds straight” (Romans 12.2) It is the very best way to approach the subject of guidance and discerning God’s will. Men and women act with God in co-creating their lives by the decisions they make. We should, therefore, place great value on learning to think intelligently, logically and clearly. Does that sound “unspiritual”? Think again. Study and other disciplines of the mind help us in acquiring the skills needed for wise decision-making, in formation of conscience and in the search for truth. Once we find the truth, we can then change, transform and/renew our minds to accommodate it. Scripture clearly indicates that we are to be “transformed by the renewing” of our minds. Guidance becomes a lot easier if we do. If our behaviour is influenced by what we think, then we will simply begin to act differently once we have a new mind on things. Romans 12.2 is clear on this: “Let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.” The hard choices come between two goods. What will give God greater glory as I head off to college – a major in business or in social work? Or, now that I am retired, how should I spend this summer? Should I go on a pilgrimage or volunteer in the local Right to Life office? Between two goods, God has a preference. He will give us an invitation, but he will never coerce. The Acts of the Apostles vividly describes the way God guides those who are willing to be led by the Spirit. The Spirit shows us as Church – individually and collectively – what God wants us to do and be. “The mystery of Pentecost is that the gift of discernment is breathed into the world, enabling us to see the presence of the divine in the midst of the human – not as an aside or an after thought, but as the main event of our lives.” (Jay Rochelle in Christian Century May 22, 1985 p 535) When we think clearly, and then live and breathe the atmosphere of the divine, guidance will not be confused with the tug of emotional impulse. If on Monday you have made a good decision to give God glory by attending medical school, you will not “hear” God call you to give all your money to an evangelist or to the poor on Tuesday. Why? Because you will need the money you have saved to support your decision to build God’s kingdom as a doctor. God will not contradict himself. St Ignatius of Loyola has some very helpful guidelines for fine-tuning our ability to make a good choice. He reminds us that the decision we can truly discern will always involve something we “intend” to do. It is not automatically a decision about what “will” happen. I can pray about whether to be open to marriage, but I cannot be certain that I will marry. Why? John can decide, or intend to ask Mary to marry him, and he may rightly hear God call him to ask her, but it does not follow that John and Mary will marry, because Mary is also free to make a choice. All you can discern is what you may choose, not the responses of others. One thing is clear, however: we should commit in advance to do what God wills once it is clear. Why ask God a question if our mind is already made up, or if we don’t want to hear his answer, or if our attitude is, “Let me know what you want Lord, and I’ll think it over.” The process of seeking guidance should be simple and peaceful. There is no need to be frantic or confused in seeking God’s will. He loves us, and will make it clear. We don’t need psychics and crystal balls. We don’t need lots of fear, doubt or self-analysis. “Many people seek to hear God solely as a device for securing their own safety, comfort and righteousness… but extreme preoccupation with knowing God’s will for me may only indicate, contrary to what is often thought, that I am over-concerned with myself, not a Christ-like interest in the well being of others or the glory of God.”(Dallas Willard “Hearing God” p.28) My husband is fascinated by the novels of Patrick O’Brien, which describe early nineteenth century sailing vessels. He is intrigued with the history and the beauty of the old masts, and by all the seemingly primitive, yet accurate navigation accomplished with only seasoned hands, a mariner’s compass, clock and sextant. We have our own versions of these essential tools when it comes to guidance, things by which you can set your course: Scripture, the teaching of the Church, well-tested charisms, pastoral care (advice from others who are wise). To set sail without them is foolhardy. Best of all we have the life of Christ, whose food is to do the will of the Father, within us. We should get our own thinking process straight, allow the mind of Christ to grow within us, and then simply make our choices for the glory of God. As for our party – the Father is all about feasts
and bounty and overflowing water jugs. We sent out for a case of beer!
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