We live in an orderly universe much of which we can inspect, disassemble, and find logic and consistency in.  It has proven to be put together in an orderly fashion - even its chaotic elements are generally predictable.  And while the universe is still vast and not entirely knowable, its Creator has given us reliable tools to find much of what we need to know, even in great detail, about the small area of the universe which we inhabit.  These are tools we know as logic, reason, methods of scientific exploration (the “scientific method”) and the ability to think critically and to test things revealed in His physical and spiritual creation.  These common tools, immensely valuable for traveling down a wise path, are accessible and easy to use regardless of our level of expertise or education.  This section will explore the joy and ease of using those tools,.

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 Discerning the way through discernment

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          Your discernment springs from your senses and their ability to fuel your mind with information with which you can then  use to learn and grow.  Your mind has the ability to remember and imagine "what if?,or "if this, then that", and countless other modes of operation.  These unique qualities enable humans to function at a higher level than other creatures.  Humans do not live in isolation so have developed ways to communicate.  And we can communicate grand ideas through symbols that have groups of us have organized into language.  Language is necessary for an individuals to talk to not only to others, but to themselves.  We unpack the images and thoughts within our own minds first, with words the group has assigned meaning.. Groups of words become sentences, and groups of sentences (concepts) become big ideas (groups of concepts - theories/ideas) and pretty soon we are expressing big ideas to each other.  This is not easy.  We do not always communicate well, and when we do, many times we see things differently than each other.  We wonder "exactly what is what"? Fitting everything together rightly, then, becomes the process of discernment.

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          So what of our imagination?  Well, we need a place to store all of these thoughts, symbols, and ideas, and our minds come equipped with not only a memory to serve as clerk of an organized file cabinet, but an imagination that can take files and move them all around, comparing, juxtaposing, dissecting, re-manufacturing, even creating new ones from old.   Our imaginations enable us to consider things even though we have never personally experienced them..

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          How's that?  Well, have you ever thought about another job you might like but have no experience in? You just exercised your imagination, imagining a possibility that has not yet taken shape..  You have just created an idea in your mind of what a better job might look like and have taken the first steps in evaluating something that does not yet exist.  But, care is in order here.  In a manner of speaking, it's still imaginary at this point.  Mental imagery.  But, now you are at risk of being called a "dreamer".   Your job during such an exercise is not to and drift off into fantasy and daydreaming, but to actively take hold of your imagination and create and evaluate "realistically" this idea of a better job.  Imagining here is an opportunity to discern a wise path for yourself. 

 

Roadblocks to discernment

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