Weary of unanswered questions?
Weary of unanswered questions?
It’s not unusual to become weary of the unanswered questions. The latest issue of E-Voc, features a reflection “Let It Go!” by S. Janet Gildea
“Do you ever feel sick and tired of discernment? It’s not unusual to become weary of the unanswered questions. Sometimes you can get annoyed even by those lovely vocation maxims like “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart …” (Rilke). You might have reached a point of clarity with one part of the discernment process, for example feeling a clear sense of the call to explore a religious vocation, and then confusion over the next steps sends you into a tailspin of doubt again. Is God just playing games? With Jeremiah you complain, “You tricked me, Lord, and I let myself be tricked!” (Jer. 20:7).
“If you find yourself in the doldrums of discernment, it might be time to just lay the burden down. Take a vacation from the pressure to figure it all out. Let it go.
“What to do with yourself when you’re not occupied with the big questions? Return to the basics. Tend to your prayer life, especially returning to passages of Scripture that have been a source of comfort and nourishment to you. Let God bring them to mind. Read through journal entries and retreat writings. Listen to your favorite Christian tunes.
“What do you like to do on vacation? Sleep late … be a beach bum … sit and watch the waves. Put down the Confessions of St. Augustine and read a good novel instead! Enjoy the time kicking back with God as you would with a good friend. You don’t always have to be engaged in deep and meaningful conversations. Give discernment a rest. You might find unexpected clarity when you stop trying.
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