Discernment

Faith and Light International Formation 2010

By Timothy Buckley

Faith and Light International Formation 2010

By Timothy Buckley

2

The last temptation is the greatest treason:

To do the right deed for the wrong reason.

(Murder in the Cathedral by T. S. Eliot)

The last temptation is the greatest treason:

To do the right deed for the wrong reason.

(Murder in the Cathedral by T. S. Eliot)

3

Along with deepening our personal relationship with God through prayer, discernment is a means by which we may live more closely according to the Spirit of Jesus

Along with deepening our personal relationship with God through prayer, discernment is a means by which we may live more closely according to the Spirit of Jesus

4

What is discernment?What is discernment? To choose and to make decisions that

are more in harmony with God’s loving desires God has desires and preferences that are

not always obvious to us God, as revealed in Jesus, has strong, passionate

desires for all that is truly good God is not indifferent, uncaring or apathetic

We need help to better know what God wants of us

To choose and to make decisions that are more in harmony with God’s loving desires God has desires and preferences that are

not always obvious to us God, as revealed in Jesus, has strong, passionate

desires for all that is truly good God is not indifferent, uncaring or apathetic

We need help to better know what God wants of us

5

A graceful ability to recognize which impulses, movements, ideas or inspirations come from God and which come from some other source Which choice will help me to become freer,

more fully alive, more loving, more truly human – like Jesus

Which choice will give more life to others, build up, unite, heal

A graceful ability to recognize which impulses, movements, ideas or inspirations come from God and which come from some other source Which choice will help me to become freer,

more fully alive, more loving, more truly human – like Jesus

Which choice will give more life to others, build up, unite, heal

6

God does not want, will, desire, prefer everything that happens

what is evil, destructive, rooted in selfishness or lies or fear, what is oppressive, demeaning, enslaving or whatever promotes division is not of God

We have the freedom and the possibility to choose against God’s desires and preferences and everyone suffers the consequences of these choices

God does not want, will, desire, prefer everything that happens

what is evil, destructive, rooted in selfishness or lies or fear, what is oppressive, demeaning, enslaving or whatever promotes division is not of God

We have the freedom and the possibility to choose against God’s desires and preferences and everyone suffers the consequences of these choices

7

Between two real, possible goods

Evil is always to be rejected - even when difficult

Not seeking the “best,” perfect or “ideal” choice

Which of these is better Not multiple choice Coherent with one’s vocational

commitments

Between two real, possible goods

Evil is always to be rejected - even when difficult

Not seeking the “best,” perfect or “ideal” choice

Which of these is better Not multiple choice Coherent with one’s vocational

commitments

8

Individual or group

Actual, concrete choices - here and now This time, this place, these people and

these specific circumstances Accepting our limitations Not theoretical or hypothetical (what if…)

Individual or group

Actual, concrete choices - here and now This time, this place, these people and

these specific circumstances Accepting our limitations Not theoretical or hypothetical (what if…)

9

Discernment and PrayerDiscernment and Prayer

Discernment flows out of a personal relationship with God nurtured through prayer

Over time we come to better know the other Their desires, preferences, hopes, dreams What delights them, saddens or disturbs them

Discernment flows out of a personal relationship with God nurtured through prayer

Over time we come to better know the other Their desires, preferences, hopes, dreams What delights them, saddens or disturbs them

10

We develop an “inner feel” for God’s Will and ways

Putting on the mind and heart of Jesus by spending regular extended time with him

We develop an “inner feel” for God’s Will and ways

Putting on the mind and heart of Jesus by spending regular extended time with him

11

Over time we come to better know our selves

Favorite ways of operating for good OR for less than good

Areas of comfort, ease, engagement, confidence Areas of avoidance, difficulty, discomfort, fear Ways of trying to make myself “look good” How to allow love to take the lead

Over time we come to better know our selves

Favorite ways of operating for good OR for less than good

Areas of comfort, ease, engagement, confidence Areas of avoidance, difficulty, discomfort, fear Ways of trying to make myself “look good” How to allow love to take the lead

12

Discernment and Decision MakingDiscernment and Decision Making

The choices and decisions are ours

We are not asking or expecting God to approve our choices

We are trying to choose more closely in harmony with God’s Spirit

The choices and decisions are ours

We are not asking or expecting God to approve our choices

We are trying to choose more closely in harmony with God’s Spirit

13

Since Faith and Light is Christian community, discernment is our way of making

better choices and taking better decisions individually and together

Since Faith and Light is Christian community, discernment is our way of making

better choices and taking better decisions individually and together

14

If our community receives a donation, will we use this money to help with the expenses of a formation session for all the members or for a summer camp where we will invite many new young people to participate?

If our community receives a donation, will we use this money to help with the expenses of a formation session for all the members or for a summer camp where we will invite many new young people to participate?

15

Since Faith and Light is Christian community, discernment is our way of making

better choices and taking better decisions individually and together

Since Faith and Light is Christian community, discernment is our way of making

better choices and taking better decisions individually and together

16

Our province has formation as one of our priorities; will we begin with forming present community coordinators or with offering formation to people who have potential to be leaders in the future?

Our province has formation as one of our priorities; will we begin with forming present community coordinators or with offering formation to people who have potential to be leaders in the future?

17

The International Coordinating Team has one open space in the agenda for its next meeting; will we use it to build community by deepening relationships among the members or will we invite someone to teach us better skills for working together as a team

The International Coordinating Team has one open space in the agenda for its next meeting; will we use it to build community by deepening relationships among the members or will we invite someone to teach us better skills for working together as a team

18

Matching Gifts to RolesMatching Gifts to Roles Another application of discernment Everyone has a gift needed for the good of

all There are different gifts for different roles

of service If my gift is not a better fit for this role,

there is some other valuable service for me to do for the Body

No one has all the gifts needed

Another application of discernment Everyone has a gift needed for the good of

all There are different gifts for different roles

of service If my gift is not a better fit for this role,

there is some other valuable service for me to do for the Body

No one has all the gifts needed

19

Discernment, in this case, involves a combination of:

A concrete situation of service, A specific gift that corresponds to this need Availability (can “exchange” with or “let go”

of some other tasks) Will not compromise other major responsibilities

A sense of call (feels right, inner peace, this “fits”)

Detachment (inner freedom)

Discernment, in this case, involves a combination of:

A concrete situation of service, A specific gift that corresponds to this need Availability (can “exchange” with or “let go”

of some other tasks) Will not compromise other major responsibilities

A sense of call (feels right, inner peace, this “fits”)

Detachment (inner freedom)

20

Discernment is the way we in Faith and Light have to help us to better choose our leadersDiscernment is the way we in Faith and Light have to help us to better choose our leaders

21

This is an ongoing process that includes:

discovering what gifts our people have by offering opportunities for them to do various tasks

recognizing/naming each one’s gift or gifts

developing those gifts which flow gracefully through learning and practice

It is much more difficult to see with our ears than with our eyes

engaging those gifts in service to the Body

This is an ongoing process that includes:

discovering what gifts our people have by offering opportunities for them to do various tasks

recognizing/naming each one’s gift or gifts

developing those gifts which flow gracefully through learning and practice

It is much more difficult to see with our ears than with our eyes

engaging those gifts in service to the Body

22

The well being of the Body (community, province, FLI) depends upon each member’s gift being fully functional

It is possible for a person to walk on his hands, but it is not a better way to travel through life for most of us

Because a person can do something does not mean that they have a gift for this

We work better and we feel better when people are using their core gifts for the good of all

The well being of the Body (community, province, FLI) depends upon each member’s gift being fully functional

It is possible for a person to walk on his hands, but it is not a better way to travel through life for most of us

Because a person can do something does not mean that they have a gift for this

We work better and we feel better when people are using their core gifts for the good of all

23

Discernment as a Way of LifeDiscernment as a Way of Life

Over time, through regular practice and guidance, discernment becomes the way that we approach all the important decisions in our life because our desire to be closer to God and to work more closely with God’s Spirit grows and deepens

Over time, through regular practice and guidance, discernment becomes the way that we approach all the important decisions in our life because our desire to be closer to God and to work more closely with God’s Spirit grows and deepens