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

4 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 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 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

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?

15 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?

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

18 Matching 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 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 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