You’ve probably heard the word “discernment” used primarily in relationship to a clergy person’s call or vocation. Or perhaps you’ve heard people talk about discernment at a major crossroads in their lives. But God invites all of us to discernment, not only for big decisions but also for the whole of our lives, for the daily things as well as the big stuff.
The word “discern” comes from the Latin discernere, which means “to separate apart.” From all the options in front of us, and from all the information that comes to us each day, we “separate apart” those things that seem to be God’s unique call to us. So how we treat others, how we vote, how we use our time, talent, and money, and how we care for ourselves and the details these involve all require the practice of discernment. By learning to practice discernment in everyday life, we’ll be far better equipped to hear God’s guidance at any major crossroads we reach. Discernment requires practice. Doing it regularly, in the daily course of our lives, equips us to practice it under high-stress circumstances when we need to.
This message is excerpted from “Listening to God” by Debra Farrington, a 2013 resource of the Women of the ELCA.
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