Reason and Discernment

What next?

Reason and discernment become safeguards.

Reason asks me to slow down and examine what I think I know.

Is this true?

What are the facts?

Does my conclusion actually follow from those facts?

What don’t I know?

Am I confusing my interpretation with reality?

Is there another explanation?

What might I be overlooking?

But reason alone isn’t enough.

Something can be factually true and still not tell me what I should do.

That is where discernment asks deeper questions.

Is it right?

Is it wise?

Is it right for me?

Why do I want this?

What is motivating me?

Am I acting because I am excited?

Am I frightened?

Am I angry?

Am I being flattered?

Am I simply attracted to something because it is new?

How will this decision affect my relationship with God?

How will it affect other people?

How will it affect my relationship with myself?

How will it affect the world through which I travel?

And sometimes the answer to What next? is:

I don’t know yet.

That may mean I need to wait.

Listen.

Learn more.

Ask another question.

Talk with someone whose wisdom I trust.

Pray.

Think.

Discern.

I have sometimes interpreted waiting as a lack of faith. I am learning that the pause itself can be an act of faith.

I don’t have to turn every coincidence, opportunity, invitation, emotion, or open door into a message from God.

Instead of saying,

“God opened this door, so I must walk through it,”

I can pray,

“This door has opened. God, give me wisdom to discern whether I should walk through it.”

There is a difference.

I have learned that difference the hard way.

It has cost me.

That doesn’t mean I want to become afraid of making decisions. I don’t want to spend the rest of my pilgrimage standing at every fork in the road because I am frightened that I might choose the wrong path.

I still want to be curious.

I still want to explore.

I still want to try new things.

I still want to cross boundaries.

But I also want to learn from the road I have already traveled.

So when I reach another fork, I want to pause.

Stop. Look. Listen. Ask. Think. Pray. Discern.

Consider the wisdom of Sacred Writings.

Listen to the wisdom of tradition.

Remember what experience has taught me.

Use the mind God has given me.

Examine my motives.

Consider my relationships.

And then ask:

What next?

Reason and discernment don’t guarantee that I will always make the right choice.

I still see through the glass imperfectly.

But perhaps wisdom isn’t knowing beforehand that every choice will turn out exactly as I hope.

Perhaps wisdom is learning to choose thoughtfully, humbly, faithfully, and with an open mind and heart—and then continuing the pilgrimage wherever that choice leads.

The Curious Pilgrim