WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

To  DISCERN is by definition to recognize or perceive clearly. DISCERNMENT then is an act or instance of discerning. In Catholic mentality, discernment is the process by which an individual may come to clearly perceive God’s intentions for himself or herself.

In the broadest possible terms, God’s will for us is that we do good and avoid evil, and usually it is not an overly complicated process to come up with an answer. Should I sleep with the neighbor’s wife? Usually that’s a no-brainer, Although I know of those who have come to the conclusion that they should, I have to be honest and say that those individuals gave short shrift to the issue of whether God actually wanted or intended them to sleep with the neighbor’s wife.

Other issues in our life are not so clear cut however. Should I marry? Should I marry a particular individual?  Excluding those instances where the bride-to-be is a serial axe murderer from Cleveland, the issue of whether I should marry is generally not a question of good and evil. Marrying is good, remaining single is good. The issue here is what does God want me to do?

Of course, before it is possible to get to the issue of what God wants, other questions arise. Do I want to know what God wants? How is it possible to find out what God wants? If I got a registered letter in God’s own handwriting stating clearly what he indeed wants, would that make any difference in my decision?

Oddly, at 57 years old, I am looking at one of those decisions in my life that needs the light of discernment. My employer went out of business and I am out of job. Without boring you with all the numbers, just take my word for it that I have the opportunity to decide whether I am unemployed, or if I am retired. Each option presents opportunities and dilemmas. I am not wealthy enough that money is of no consequence, but I have enough that survival is not an issue.

What am I to do? What does God want me to do?

       Wax: to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc.

       Beeswax: more of me than you probably want to know