Given the seemingly random and very unsettling shake-ups and turnarounds in many people's lives these days, it's no wonder there is increased interest in spiritual practices for discerning the will of God. Debra K. Farrington, publisher of Morehouse Publishing and the former manager of the Graduate Theological Union Bookstore in Berkeley, draws upon her own experiences with classic spiritual practices to examine this process. She outlines some of the roadblocks that hinder us from listening and trusting in God as both a director and partner in our lives.
How can we come to a deeper relationship with the Creator? One of the first steps is to open your heart and trust in God's ways. The author discusses praying regularly, practicing silence, studying, acknowledging our gifts, and paying attention to our bodies. She includes exercises to help the reader through these practices. Farrington is convinced that the following skills are requisite for the art of discernment: reason, intuition, imagination, group support, patience, and action. Jesus while tempted in the wilderness models the surrender to God that is often required.
One of the more interesting tools covered in the book is the clearness committee, a discernment technique developed in Quaker communities. A person seeking to make a decision sits with five or six people for a few hours as they ask questions and listen to his or her answers. The committee does not give advice, though at the end of each session they may reflect upon what they saw and heard. Farrington also points out how spiritual directors and soul friends can be boons during periods of doubt and confusion in our spiritual lives.
