I concluded Part I with some questions, here is one of them: How might I be able to actually verify a call that comes from God? I ended with: A story might help. . .
In early April, 1997 a fellow was driving on an interstate highway. For eight months he had been deeply immersed in a ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ journey. As he was driving along he began to realize that he was extremely tired of living in the ‘Dark Night.’ He also realized that he was feeling that God had abandoned him. He also realized that he was becoming angrier and angrier with God.
For thirty years he had been holding ‘an escape plan’ – a way out. His way out was to become a long-haul trucker. He knew that a number of the better long haul trucking companies trained drivers. The trucking company that captured his imagination had trucks that were black; they were also emblazoned with red and white designs on their sides. This company also trained long-haul truckers. He knew that the 800 number was listed in white on the back of their trucks.
It was early in the morning. The sky was beginning to emerge a clear blue. The sun was rising from behind. As he sped along he noticed, about a half-mile ahead, a black truck. He knew this was ‘the truck’ he was looking for. He said, ‘God is providing me a way out and I am going to take it.’ He had been, for miles, pleading with God for a way out.
He sped up. He took out a pad and pencil so he could write down the 800 phone number. As he was close enough he looked up; the sun had risen to a height that allowed it to block the number. He could not look directly at the back of the truck; the glare from the sun was near blinding. He went a bit faster and inched his way forward. He thought that if he was able to get close enough he would be able to look up at an angle that would allow him to read the 800 number.
Finally, he was close enough. He looked up. The number was partially covered in dirt. Then he saw it. Written in the dirt, just below the number were these words: God is Calling You, Pay Attention!
Our driver cursed and said, O.K God, I got it! He spent another nine months in his Dark Night. During these nine months, there were, he noticed, little pieces of light that were guiding him into the Sun.
There are no set rules that provide us definitive answers. Some of the rules that do exist provide incomplete or poor guidance.
Our driver learned that the ability to discern is rooted in striving to live the life of God’s ‘Spirit.’ We choose to be open to God’s Spirit. We choose to become rooted in the heart of God. We choose to trust God’s Spirit. The people who choose to live this way – which is often a way rooted in doubt – are more likely to discern God’s Spirit speaking to them.
As these people move toward spiritual maturity, they move beyond the need for specific rules and answers into the ‘darkness of God’ where they choose to discern and act rooted in faith and doubt rather than in certainty and surety.
Searcher-Seeker 
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