Discernment Fatigue

I’m teaching on the subject of Christian Spirituality this semester at Alphacrucis University College.

I’m also in the process of developing a new unit on Discipleship for the Bachelor and Master of Theology and Ministry degrees.

That means for the past few months I have been up to my eyeballs in reading and study on all things spiritual formation.

It’s been an enjoyable and insightful exercise but this week’s lesson on Spiritual Discernment got me thinking.

I sense that there may be a new phenomenon developing that I can only describe as “discernment fatigue”.

I’m conscious of it in part because I feel it myself.

We’re all familiar with the concept of “compassion fatigue”, the deepening sense of weariness we feel from over-exposure to a growing number of global crises, most of which we can do very little about.

The interconnectedness of our twenty-first century world means that our lives are flooded daily with a tidal wave of real-time information from around the world concerning every disturbing event happening somewhere on our little island in the universe.

The problem is we don’t have the emotional capacity to deal with all of it, or the ability to contribute meaningfully to every solution.

The net effect is that we end up feeling exhausted by the constant emotional toll that each news story takes on our souls.

In similar fashion, we are now facing another sort of onslaught.

This time it’s in the form of critique, a constant running commentary on every social, cultural, political, and theological development taking place in the world.

For each event or controversy there is a litany of both expert and not-so-expert commentators offering their perspectives on the matter.

Some have set themselves up as defenders of the “true faith” and armchair critics of the apparently successful. Others are just sincerely trying to make sense of the issues.

As one would expect, there are as many differing opinions as there are people voicing them.

There are those who are outraged that such a thing could have happened and those who are thrilled that it has.

There are people who think we should act now, and others who think we should refrain from doing so.

Arguments are given for a particular course of action and counter-arguments offered against it.

Some claim to have the biblical perspective on the matter and others label them as heretics.

Part of the challenge is that often these critiques are framed in overly-simplistic dualisms – “We are right, you are wrong!” “This is true, that is false.” “Ours is the correct way, yours is not!”

Very little acknowledgment is given to the complex nuances that shape the issues and a subtle pressure exists for us to have a position on all of them.

In response to all this, we are expected to discern the truth (or the right path, the best way, the moral stance, the correct position, etc.), “pick a side”, and then nail our colours to the mast.

It may be somewhat self-imposed, but there is a very real pressure to have an answer to every dilemma and a perspective on every issue.

I fear, however, that we may be trying to process some of these matters far too quickly and way too publicly.

Some of them really do require a long, slow, thoughtful process of reflection and learning before we can discern anything about them.

That said, the pressure persists.

So, who is right? And what is true? Should we act? Or should we not?

If so, what should I do? Who should I support? What do I lend my voice to?

Is this the moral thing to do? Or is that the moral thing to do?

Should the church be engaging with this matter? Or is this none of our business?

Is that orthodox Christianity? Or is it heresy?

And on and on it goes until eventually, it all just becomes a little exhausting.

Or is it just me?

Is anyone else getting tired of all the constant analysis and endless commentary?

I suspect I’m not alone.

I get that it’s not going away anytime soon, and the truth of the matter is that all these issues are deserving of attention, so I’m not suggesting we disengage entirely.

I am saying though that we need to pay attention to the weariness we feel in our souls and take care.

I suspect that the solution to guarding against discernment fatigue is going to be controlling the exposure.

Put down the phone. Turn off the news. Silence the drama merchants. Step away from the keyboard and breathe.

Slow down, get quiet, and give more of your attention to the beauty of the moment you are in, with the people who are there.

When you are ready to engage, pick the issues that matter most to you and think deeply and slowly about them.

Be willing to acknowledge that there are some issues you don’t have a well-formed view on.

Don’t give in to the pressure to take a position or make a stand if you don’t feel ready to.

Talk about the issues you care about with others before you post about them online. There is something about in-person conversation with thoughtful people that is so helpful to the process.

At the end of the day, navigating the new realities of life in the twenty-first century doesn’t always require innovative solutions.

Sometimes ancient, well-worn wisdom is the way.

In conclusion, I want to echo the prayer of the apostle Paul:

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:16