One of the recurring questions for people of faith is that of discernment. How do we allow the repeated, sometimes nagging voice of inspiration to enter our lives? How do we allow God to guide us? How do we know that the voice we hear is from God, and not our own?
The parish of Saint John the Apostle in Port Moody identified, as part of MAP (Ministry Assessment Process) that discernment was a practice to be pursued as a priority in 2013. And so, on Friday and Saturday, 25 and 26 January, Saint John’s hosted Dr Nancy Reeves and Linnea Good as they presented a workshop on spiritual discernment.Dr Reeves is a registered psychologist, spiritual director, and best-selling author, who has specialized in healing and transformation with adults and children since 1978. She also conducts workshops and retreats in the area of spirituality. She was approached, based upon familiarity with her work, especially her book on discernment called I'd Say Yes, God, If I Knew What You Wanted.
Another practice identified by Saint John’s as part of MAP was that of hospitality, and so the parish decided to offer and promote the conference beyond its own congregation. Saint John’s funded the event itself, which, as the rector, the Rev. Grant Rodgers observed, “was stepping out on a bit of a limb.”
The weekend was successful in drawing participants: 68 people registered, and nearly all of them came, which suggests that an event of this type has appeal. They came from 19 different churches, with 15 people being from churches other than Anglican.
Nancy Reeves uses a rich supply of stories to illustrate the process and practice of discernment, which, in contrast to decision-making, involves a relationship, a conversation, with God. She encourages visualization techniques, acknowledging the variety of ways of doing this. She suggests that there are several prerequisites for effective discernment – which, she suggests, can become more of an attitude than a method – such as daily spiritual practices, self-awareness, openness and receptivity, patience and trust.
Nancy Reeves often works with Linnea Good, singer-songwriter and leader in the field of music in all-ages worship. Linnea’s presence offered some great dynamics for adults and especially children. Many of those who participated commented upon the effective way in which music was able to illuminate, illustrate and broaden the concept of discernment, engaging us in different ways from speech and listening. Indeed song was used as punctuation for the stories told, and song was used as story.
How does God guide us? God can use our strengths; God can strengthen our weaknesses; and sometimes God does not let us do what we want. If things are not working, we should stop and think about why this might be so, instead of plugging on stubbornly. The concept of spiritual detachment is important, too. We need to beware of asking for, "Whatever you want, God, as long as it's …" (fill in the blank of self-promoting wish)!
Love is an important part of discernment: without love, each of these qualities may become not a virtue, but a potential vice. For example, patience without love may become self-righteous martyrdom; trust without love becomes blind and indiscriminate. Nancy Reeves see all this as rooted in God’s love: “If we see our relationship to God as beloved, then we will live more richly and fully.”
Perhaps the biggest challenge for humanity in an age of rampant individualism and self-determination is to set aside self and be truly open to God’s imagination. Our response to God's approach ought to be, "Here I am, God," not, "What do you want now?"!
St. John's is following up on the conference by offering a Lenten preaching series on Sunday mornings, also based on I'd Say Yes, God, If I Knew What You Wanted. Saint Catherine’s, in Port Coquitlam, together with Trinity United Church, will be offering a Lenten discussion series on Sunday and Tuesday evenings based upon the book.
Images: Top and homepage, Dr. Nancy Reeves speaks to participants at the conference. Middle, discernment discussion group
PHOTOS: Paul Strudwick