I'm sitting in the front office talking with the people I work with when it overcame me. I got super hungry all the sudden but was lost on what to eat. I had two choices in my head. One I could go home and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I would have to drive home and take time to make a sandwich. Or I could go pick up McDonald's and eat it as I work. Of course me being the lazy person I can be I went to McDonald's and got a double cheeseburger. (Probably because I love Double Cheeseburgers)
Now, I wish every decision was as black and white as this one. But this is a great way to describe the process of discernment. When talking to people about discernment it seems that everyone's thought process goes directly to the religious life or married life. Discernment is in every decision that we make every single day. But your probably asking yourself by now how does deciding what I ate for lunch relate to discernment.
Well, it shows the break down of the discernment process. First, you identify the choices you are trying to decide between. In this process I am trying to decide what to eat for lunch. Second, you look at the pros and cons on each of these topics. PB&J is a delicious sandwich that is cheap and will suffice for the time being. The problem is that I will have to interrupt my work to go home and make a sandwich and then come back to work. McDonald's it is quick, easy, and will fill me up for the time being. The problem here is that McDonalds is incredibly unhealthy for you. Next, you want to pray about it and get guidance from others if necessary. I'm not saying that I have prayed about my lunch, but I will admit that I ask my coworkers what they think I should do for lunch. I know it may be silly but hey sometimes I can be pretty indecisive. Finally, you choose something and follow through with it. A lot of times we are not confident in our decisions and begin to question ourselves. I mean if I wasn't confident in my decision to eat McDonald's I just wasted five bucks and money doesn't grow on trees.
Now this might be one of the most obscure ways for some people to look at discernment, but I can pretty much relate anything to food. This goes beyond food though and should be considered in all parts of our lives. Not every decision is so black and white and there are not always only two choices. Prayer is the most important part of this whole process. We are given free will, but part of that free will we are offered a chance to have guidance by God. Prayer is that connection that we have with Him. I mean I was pretty satisfied with that decision to have McDonalds, even if my jeans seem to be getting a little tighter.
