This morning gentle reader I am going to invite us to consider a few of the conditions that might help us engage the discipline of Discernment. Our focus will be on ‘Discerning God’s Call.’
I believe that God speaks and reveals in God’s own way and in God’s own time; thus, for example, I believe that there is truth in all faith, humanistic and philosophical traditions – I do not limit God to speaking to me-you-us via only one tradition.
I also believe that there are a number of disciplines that can help me when it comes to the discipline of Discernment and to ‘Discerning God’s Call’ for me. Integrating these disciplines into my life will not guarantee that I will be able to Discern.
I have learned that if I am going to be able to ‘Discern God’s Call’ I must discipline myself to be open to ‘hearing’ and I must be committed to ‘responding.’ I have also learned that God is patient. God’s Spirit will offer me innumerable ‘whispers’ – or, once in a while, a ‘shout’ or two.
I have also learned that I have to contribute something to the process; simply being well intentioned is not enough. I must integrate certain disciplines which then help me be more awake, aware, purpose-full and open to God’s Spirit’s ‘soft voice’ or ‘sudden shouts.’
Given all of this, consider the following ‘Disciplines’ [Discipline = an activity, exercise or regimen that develops or strengthens a skill or capacity].
Trust. I have to be willing to trust God. I trust that God is always present (not an easy thing to do as anyone who has experienced a dark night of the soul knows only too well), that God will-does ‘speak’ to me, that God ‘is love’ and that God is mercy-full and that God has a need for me in the world. I also need to trust that, as a mentor of mine told me 50 years ago, ‘all is good’ (another tough idea for me to trust).
Listening. I believe that I must develop an attitude of listening with an open heart and an open mind. I must listen to both the ‘good news’ and to the ‘news that is disturbing’ to me (I also know that the ‘good news’ can also be the ‘disturbing news’).
In order to listen in this way I must also suspend my judgments, my prejudices, my stereotypes, my assumptions, and my ‘sureties.’ Those are just some of the things that hinder and block me when it comes to listening in this way.
I need to be fully present when I am listening. I have also learned that this type of listening requires me to ‘listen in silence’ and ‘in solitude.’ I recall that Elijah did not hear God’s voice in the might wind or in the earthquake or in the roaring fire, but in a small still voice.
Prayer. This is the type of prayer where I listen and God speaks. A role model for me is the young Samuel who said: ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant listens.’
God’s ‘whisper’ often comes via other people, or experiences, or even my dreams. This idea reinforces, for me, my need to be fully present, to have an open heart and mind, and to be a searcher-seeker (in this case, to searcher and seek in order to discern). In a true sense, then, my life can itself be a prayer.
[To be continued…]