WINTER 2004
ear Friends,
It is hard to believe we are close to the end of the year! Over the holidays, many of us will reconnect with family and friends and be reminded, perhaps, of how past decisions and commitments, ripple-like, have affected others and ourselves. We may spend time in reflection and discernment around the meaning of the holidays and how (or even whether) we will celebrate them. As the new year approaches, many of us, out of habit, will at least consider making a resolution or two. We discern all the time, sometimes on automatic pilot, but at this time of year we may move our discernment up a notch in intensity. I invite us all to take a few moments to stop and reflect on our experience and understanding of spiritual discernment. Taking the time to stop, we might discern with greater intention over the holidays.
As I have experienced it, and I can only speak for myself, spiritual discernment involves surrender and letting go. It entails bringing my best thinking and the best science to a subject and then relinquishing my ego-protecting will and being low, being small. I don’t abandon the work of my head; rather I try not to let my head alone drive my decision making. Spiritual discernment requires me to go deep, and yet deeper, to that underground stream, that hidden river of love, which flows through all things. Ironically, following this flow—which can only be found in being low—gives me dignity and wholeness, and makes me more magnificently human. This is not the lowness of debasement, but the simplicity of graced humility. When I forget about discernment, or when I step out of the stream, I feel the effects in my body and my relationships. I become impatient with others and myself. My muscles tighten, or I get sick. My judgement gets cloudy. I fall out of community. How do you experience spiritual discernment or the lack of it? How does clarity come to you? How does good or poor discernment spill over into other parts of your life?
I sometimes keenly feel the effects of poor discernment, while at other times I keep plodding on, unaware perhaps that my practice has gradually slipped into sloppiness. When I have discerned well, I am often given no assurances. I may not know when I am on the wrong path. Do we not all do the best we can and then proceed in faith? We always seek clarity, but clarity is rarely a matter of black and white, rarely a matter of sharp angles and clearly defined lines. This is one reason why we as Friends engage in discernment in community. Together, listening and waiting corporately, with each person bringing his or her uniqueness and commonality and offering for all a measure of God’s light, we find a clarity more trustworthy than what we might find alone. And the measure of light available to us worshipping corporately is greater than the sum of our individual measures. This is a great mystery that Friends have witnessed to for 350 years. How have you experienced corporate discernment? How has the community helped you to see how to move forward?
God teaches each of us inwardly, and this presence and guidance is continuous—moment by moment. I have learned that unless I take the time to stop and listen, most of it is sadly lost to me. And when I do listen and discern, if I vacillate and take no action it is, sadly again, as though I never discerned. Individually and corporately, we discern and act, trusting God to work through our decision-making and acting. Is this not the fruit of faith? Have you ever discerned “well” but acted poorly? I know I have. Have you ever felt the Spirit positively at work even through a bad decision? I have, thank God.
The greater part of discernment, I believe, is love; when we discern and act faithfully we bring pockets of healing and hope, for we are acting in love. Even if and when we discern poorly, whether corporately or individually, if we remain vulnerable and open to the continuous presence, nurture, and guidance of the Spirit, all is not lost. Surely, such openness to God will not allow us to continue in directions totally incompatible with the divine will, or in ways which push against the current of love. Have you ever felt turned around by God, nudged or jerked into right alignment? Have you ever experienced healing or wholeness as a result of someone else’s discernment? of your own discernment? of the community’s?
God’s grace, at least as I experience it, is a free in-flowing, a generous presence, a love which continuously calls me into being, an empowerment of blessing, an ocean of light. To me there is little more beautiful, more dynamic, or more life-affirming than a whole community committed to living in the light of such grace. I believe we strive to be such a people. How blessed we are! Let us pray for each other, that we may discern well, and therefore live and love well. I hope to see you in December at quarterly meeting. And have a blest holiday season.
Deep and lasting peace,
—Michael Gibson, clerkRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
Last modified:
Sunday, November 14, 2004 at 12:40 AM
