Monday, October 17, 2011

Discernment: 6th important quality or attitude of a serious discerner

The sixth attitude or quality essential to discerning God’s will is having one’s priorities in order. We need to ask ourselves the question:  What’s important in my life or what is important to me?  Without knowing the answer to that question, a person is likely to shift here or there, from this or that according to how the “wind” blows.   

Ignatius believes strongly, and agree with him, that , if giving service to God is one’s ultimate goal, then every choice is made, or not made, in order to reach that goal. We will sacrifice anything to remain free in our resolve to respond to what God wants of us.  What is your ultimate goal?  When faced with a disturbing issue and responding to it out of jealousy, anger, hurt, do I ask myself the question:  How much will this matter to me in light of eternity?  That mode of pondering is another way to stay focused on one’s ultimate goal, doing what God wants of us in any given situation and not just in choosing one’s state in life.   Source: Discernment of Spirits by Warren Sazama, SJ, National Religious Vocation Conference, Chicago, IL 60615.


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