Discernment

As I've said before, I recently attended a workshop on how to identify your Charisms, spiritual gifts.  Based on 120 questions, my top gifts were Writing, Music, Faith, Craftsmanship, and Encouragement.  These all made since to me.  Part of the workshop, was an opportunity to sign up for an interview with an expert on discernment of your gifts and I happened to be assigned to one of the facilitators of our workshop.  That interview was today.

The interview lasted for one hour.  We identified what the top 6 gifts that I scored in and discussed those.  She asked for specific examples and then further questioned me from there.  She gradually tied it all together into a summary of what she was hearing.  She said that my Charisms were encouragement and evangelism and that my other gifts of writing, music, and craftsmanship were carriers of the true Charisms.  She also said that I was a natural spiritual director.

I know that I share my faith a lot and speak to others about how Jesus has impacted my life and what He has to offer to everyone.  I had never really thought about this as evangelism.  It's just who I am.  I get encouragement because it is also something I do naturally.  When I really think about it, she nailed it.  For the workshop, they had told us that your true Charisms are those gifts that when you use them, you feel energized, you feel joy, and you feel at home.  This is very true.  Encouraging others and talking about Jesus are things I feel called to do.  It is something that burns in my heart and that I could never not do.

I have considered the idea of becoming a spiritual director but have never been sure that I have it in me to do the formation required to get there.  I will have to do more discernment about that on my own and pray, pray, pray!  Please pray for me also.

I do hope to continue to use this venue to encourage others in their journey and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.  He is the Son of God.  He came to earth to teach us and to take away our sins.  He died to wash us clean.  He rose to give us the hope of everlasting life.  He did not promise us it would be easy here.  He did promise that He would always be with us and that some day we will join Him in Heaven.  "I Can Only Imagine"!