By Julie Ferraro |FāVS News
Summer is (unofficially) over. A new academic year has begun. For most people, the weekly routine has returned to “normal” — if there is such a thing.
As the routine continues, life can become dull, and it may seem like all that’s happening is a ticking off the days on a calendar until the next “big” holiday or vacation. It’s like being a hamster running endlessly in a wheel, going nowhere.
The question comes to mind: Where am I going?
That’s where discernment enters the picture.
What is discernment beyond religious context?
The term “discernment” is most commonly used in a religious context to describe an individual’s decision-making process in regard to a vocation. To think about it, though, discernment is part of many people’s daily lives, without knowing it!
College students, for instance, must discern what their major course of study will be as they progress through years of higher education (and, sometimes, that discernment involves changing majors). Once the undergraduate degree is earned, discerning whether to continue toward a master’s degree or doctorate is another challenge.
For those contemplating retirement, discernment involves a variety of facets: what pastimes to pursue, where to live, whether to travel and so forth.
Overall, discernment is meant to be a prayerful constant and an awareness of what is happening in life, the community, and the world. It’s meant to be how an individual fits into that dynamic and how the talents with which they are gifted can be used to serve God’s people in the best way possible.
Keeping eyes and heart open to opportunity
On a personal level, the past 13 years have been all about discernment. From the time my youngest son decided to join the military after high school, I sought ways to actively “give back” for all the blessings I’d received over five decades. It may seem that, quite by chance, I came across a full-time volunteer program in California — but it was part of my discernment, a conscious searching for opportunities, including programs listed online.
Applying to the program, I kept an open mind, because sometimes the answer is “no” along the path of discernment. Timing might not work out to participate, for instance, or family obligations take precedence. For me, the ministry site I preferred was not available, so I decided to accept an alternate option, and managed to have a positive impact as part of a marvelous team sharing the history of southern California with students and tourists.
While serving there, I met Franciscan sisters who invited me to come to Iowa and serve at their motherhouse, lending my skills and talents to their work — once my term as a volunteer was completed. After more than a year there, I was personally invited to the Navajo Reservation … and so on.
I’ve found myself in foreign countries, as well, enjoying the beauty of creation and helping others in their work with the marginalized, and with those seeking to refresh their souls on the spiritual journey.
By keeping my eyes, ears — and heart! — open, the Spirit has been able to work and guide my continual discernment, and I’ve been able to share the stories of many inspiring people during this period of my life.
It must be acknowledged: If a human resources manager reviewed the list of places I’ve been and the tasks I’ve performed on a resume submitted for an open position with a large corporation — or, even, a nonprofit organization — the first reaction might be that I would not be a suitable employee.
Following Jesus’s example of going where needed
When it comes to discernment, though, Jesus is an example of going where he was needed. He did, after all, travel throughout Galilee and the surrounding country as he preached and healed those he encountered.
Discernment, in whatever circumstances it is needed, is a moving experience. A person can be moved — figuratively and literally — to go where called, where they can better the lives of others.
A fear of the unknown, or of the challenges ahead, shouldn’t stop anyone from pursuing that call felt so deeply in the heart. As recorded throughout the Psalms and other Scriptures, God has promised, “I am with you.”
The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News. FāVS News values diverse perspectives and thoughtful analysis on matters of faith and spirituality.
