How Discerning Are We?

It is ironic that “discerning” is one of those words we think we understand but cannot explain.

We may say that someone has a discerning eye, or is a person of discernment. We mean we appreciate their taste or opinion, we agree with them. We rely on our own ability to discern to understand how discerning we are. We trust ourselves to discern the discernment of other people.

We generally understand discernment as “figuring things out.” We think of discernment as a helpful trait in a detective or someone good at solving puzzles. It is as if discernment might help us remember where we left our keys or where we parked our car.

There was a time when I thought discernment was primarily analytical. I approached life as a series of questions to be figured out. I saw discernment as thinking through the right answers.

For me, now, discernment is deeper than that. Discernment is not really about solving problems, though it can be helpful in practical ways.

Discernment often takes more time and effort than solving word problems. It carries a sense of wisdom and depth that goes beyond sorting things out well. Discernment grows with listening well, gaining insight, reflecting. Discernment helps us see.

As discernment becomes clearer to us, our own discernment grows stronger. We may look back and recognize ways we could have been more discerning. Discernment comes with perspective.

People come to me for help with discernment. We often discern more clearly when we can talk with someone who will listen, someone with experience. We do not need a guide who always has the right answers, we need a guide who will accompany us.

How has your experience and perspective shaped your discernment?

Who helps you discern more clearly?

[Image by Look Into My Eyes]