St. Francis of Assisi on Discernment May 27, 2011

“This is what I want, this is what I seek, this is what I long to do with all my heart.”
St. Francis of Assisi
 
Sometimes discernment can be really confusing, frustrating, and painstakingly slow! 
The art of discernment takes time, knowledge of self, and knowledge of God. 
But, I believe that St. Francis got it right when he said this. 
The heart of discernment is our heart’s deepest desire.
— Sometimes we do not know ourselves well enough to know what our deepest desire is.
What if we divided this statement up and asked these questions to ourselves?
What do I want?
What do I seek?
What do i long to do with all my heart?
When you know the answers to these questions, you will have come to know God’s will for your life!
 

Discerning Your Vocation May 24, 2011

Just recently I was reading an article in “Horizon” about vocation discernment and it prompted some thoughts.  Listen to what St. Francis de Sales said on the topic,

 “find out what God wants, and when you know,

try to carry it out cheerfully or at least corageously;

not only that, but you must love this will of God and the obligations it entails. 

Little by little train your will to follow God’s will.”

The words that struck me were “find out what God wants”.  Is that not truly what discernment is all about?  Finding what God desires for us and learning to love that desire.  But, so often we seem to get in the way of discernment.  We are really searching for waht “we” want not for what “God” wants.  We need to set ourselves aside in order to find the deepest desire of our hearts.  We need to allow God to point them out to us.  He knows us so much better than we know ourselves.  And he only wants what will make us the most happy and the most holy!