Discernment

I’ve never given much thought about my calling. I thought it was just going to come on its own. It thought God would explicitly tell me at the right time. But no. It needs discernment.

Discernment is choosing between two good things. It involves God unlike ordinary day-to-day decision-making. It takes time as well. So how do you go about with discernment? According to Father Frank Savadera, here’s how:

•  Immerse or engage yourself totally to whatever it is that you do. I used to think going on retreats and isolating one’s self would be the most favorable atmosphere to come up with big decisions like finding out what one is called to do and to be. But no. It requires us to go out into the world and discover ourselves in it rather than lock ourselves out of it. It’s just logical. Why would we want to lock ourselves out of the world to find out what we are called to do and to be while we’re in it?
• Recognize God in your own world. Whether it is the world of an Accountant, a Nurse, a Doctor, an Engineer, an Architect, a Teacher, etc., you ought to find God there. Feel God’s presence in your own context. Father Frank shared to us a story about a prostituted woman who found herself so unworthy so he told her to find God in her own context. A couple of days later, the woman returned saying she felt God coming from her back kissing her so intimately on the neck. I was surprised at how she described God’s presence. Even Father Frank was surprised. But how can we judge her? It was her context of feeling God’s love.
• Realize that the world is pulling you. The world is pulling us towards sinfulness. It comes in the most subtle and sugar-coated way. That’s why we need to continually be vigilant and prayerful.
• Sinner yet called. God is still calling us in spite of our sinfulness.
• Be grateful and be generous.

So, just when I’ve decided to start thinking about discernment last night, I was reminded again today in our law class. Our professor said that a minor aged 15-18 years would not be criminally liable if there is discernment. Well, looks like I would have to start discerning before I reach the point when I could be held captive by the regret of not living in the world the way God wants me to.  

YFCs and SFCs with Father Frank  after the talk on Discernment