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Decision Making Through Discernment by The Rev. Hartshorn Murphy Temptation, contrary to popular opinion, is never between good and evil. Unless one is truly perverse, one simply would not choose the bad over the good. The real temptation, the struggle, is between the best and the merely good. The temptation story in the gospels in which Jesus, following his baptism, is driven by the spirit of God into the wilderness (the habitat of spirits both good and bad) is a story of Jesus being presented with alternative paths to accomplish God's will. (See Matthew 4) The temptation to turn stones into bread was not simply about Jesus' physical hunger after the lengthy fast but about feeding hungry peasants and thus gaining their trust and loyalty. In a land characterized by sporadic famine and chronic hunger, feeding hungry people is not a bad thing. But manipulating vulnerable peasants is. Jesus' spiritual message (one does not live by bread alone) would be obscured by a program of charitable aid. But how does one decide between seemingly good choices? How is one to know what is the best or at least better choice? Jesus seems to have relied on the traditions of his people. His rebukes to Satan (the seducer and deceiver) were scriptural. Did the Torah alone help Jesus make a more faithful choice? In the narrative, Satan seems adept at quoting scripture too. Scripture, for all Jews, was foundational but we suspect that Jesus was guided by more than sacred text alone. For Jesus − for us − there is more. What we are reflecting on here is what Christian folk have historically called "discernment": the process of determining what God would have us do. A Discerning Heart: a Step by Step Process. Inner Disposition: The first step in a discernment process is for us to acknowledge that what we desire is to want what God wants for us in this choice. Some have called this "spiritual indifference," which means a willingness to let go of all preferences and all outcomes once God's call to us has become clear. This "inner disposition" has to be cultivated over time by careful attention to the spiritual life (worship in community, study, contemplation and prayer, spiritual practice and discipline etc.) What is the issue?: Clarity about the issue or issues to be decided is essential. Often our first articulation of the choices is superficial or peripheral. Some careful reflection is helpful in teasing out the true matter for discernment. Accurate Information: In order to make an informed decision, one needs information. This step asks us to gather all the relevant data, to understand the larger context in which the choices reside (e.g. relationships to others) and to eliminate those factors which are not essential or are distractions (e.g. other's urgency for us to choose). Prayer: At this stage, we bring all the information and reflection before God but without focusing on the potential decision at all. Rather, in prayer, we seek to sense: "where is God in all of this?", "how is God present with me now?", "what is God doing in this situation already?" This is the step of quiet reflection. Provisional Choosing: Make a tentative decision by exploring answers to the question: "How can I share in what God is already doing?" Consider an initial step and ask: "what am I seemingly called to do and with whom?" Seeking Confirmation: Ignatius of Loyola and Teresa of Avila, among others, have suggested that the crucial step in discerning is to seek a sense of confirmation or of desolation. That is, we make a tentative choice and without implementing it, we lay the choice and the whole process "at the foot of the cross" and leave it there for a time. We test the decision against the norms (e.g. core values) of the Christian community and seek to have a sense of whether this course of action or decision is "of God" or from some other source. This step should not be rushed for it is getting out of one's head and into one's belly, for God communicates with us through our hearts rather than through our thoughts alone. Implementing and Evaluation: Review the process and the decision itself, being aware of places where there was energy or the lack of it. Be aware of what were the fruits of the decision or action − or the lack of fruits. Discern the discernment. This process sounds labored but with intentional practice, it could be that pathways to the heart will be established and strengthened that will make discerning God's will normative for disciples. But this will happen only insofar as we are willing to slow down and to listen "as if through the ears of your heart." (St. Benedict). Copyright © 2008 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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