The spiritual gift of discernment is when seemingly good things can be recognized as sometimes
bad things, and seemingly bad things can also be seen to bear some good fruit. Discernment
has largely been undeveloped. It invites people into “yes/and” thinking, rather than simplistic
“either/or” thinking. This is the difference between merely having correct information and the
true spiritual gift of wisdom. Both knowledge and wisdom are good, but wisdom is much better.
It demands the maturity of discernment, which is what it takes to develop a truly consistent ethic
of life. I admit the vast majority of us are not there yet. Once we have learned to discern the real
and disguised nature of both good and evil we recognize that everything is broken and fallen,
weak and poor—while still being the dwelling place of God—you and me, your country, your
children, your marriage, and even your church and mosque and synagogue. That is not a putdown of anybody or anything, but actually creates the freedom to love imperfect things!
In this, you may have been given the greatest recipe for happiness for the rest of your life. You
cannot wait for things to be totally perfect to fall in love with them or you will never love
anything. Now, instead, you can love everything! ~Richard Rohr
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