Discernment A key spiritual practice in our lives
- Slides: 14
Discernment A key spiritual practice in our lives
Defining Discernment: The process for making choices in which we honestly attend to: • The rational reasons – pro’s and con’s – • The realm of our feelings, emotions and desires – “movements of the soul. ”
Discernment as a life long project… “Our finite freedom can never embrace the totality of our life in one act. Thus, every decision that we make leaves room for further decisions, which, to be sure are conditioned and determined by those that have gone before. ” - Karl Rahner, S. J.
Discernment as a life long project… exploring our experience naming its meaning living the meaning into action. From the Pocket Guide to Jesuit Education
Who we become as we live our lives matters. How we live our lives matters.
“Movements of the Soul” Consolation– Interior Experience Toward God, Spiritual Freedom Desolation – Away from God, Enslavement
Consolation n n n A sense of peace, joy lightness of heart A felt sense of God’s love personally A deep longing for God Feeling consoled Increase of faith, hope, love Quiet inner rest Deep conviction Harmony & Patience Self acceptance Humbleness Transparency Trust Self – surrendering
Desolation n n n A felt sense of resistance Interior disturbances and restlessness Feeling unlovable Fear & anxiety Harshly critical Judging Lack of honesty Apathy or listlessness Discouraged, despair, hopelessness A sense of false pride & wanting control, status A state of self-disgust, self-hatred Addictions, depression & repression Unwillingness to deal with the issues - avoidance
Discernment as Habit Openness n Exploring Our Experience n Naming its Meaning n Living its Meaning into Action Responding in Freedom Continual Reflection
Discernment as Habit n Openness to God A desire to surrender and receive God’s grace n § An attitude of listening, attentiveness, letting go of control
Discernment as Habit n Continual Reflection § Noticing interior movements & how they affect us §Gathering data, understanding, reasoning and then bringing them to prayer
Discernment as Habit n Responding in Freedom Recognize and respond to the invitations Growing capacity in choices, freedom, decision, action and commitment
Where does this lead us? Know Self Know God Know Freedom
Birth as one example… n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Xath 6 k. Of 0 NE n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ni. J 6 F 2 p 9 Ql 8
- 5 fold ministry
- Discernment is key
- 1 corinthians 2:9-13
- Example of acted with discernment
- Graham cray
- Discernment
- Practicing discernment
- Period of discernment
- The mass media play an important part in our lives
- Drawing the power of jesus christ into our lives
- 6 word memoirs about sports
- Tissue poem
- Journal entry 9
- During our lives, we produce three kinds of hair:
- Energy in our daily lives