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Good morning.

At the heart of all the great world religions, philosophical outlooks, and ways of viewing the world around us, is the concept or the idea of discernment. What we might call the ability to judge wisely. My dictionary tells me that the English word ‘discern’, comes from the Latin word, discernere – which means to separate or to divide.

In a world where it is hard to tell fact from fiction, and we are faced with fake news, alternative facts, misinformation, and disinformation, it can be hard to tell what is true, and what is not. What is worth keeping, and what should be set aside. Discernment, separating the good from the bad, seems like a very good place to start, in our often muddled world.

This can be particularly true for younger people, who are faced with so many different, and often competing narratives, about how to judge the world. Many people use the internet for great good, and it can be a wonderful window, with which to see our vast world and universe, and soak up all the knowledge that it has to offer. But some online influences also use their considerable following, to stoke fear, division, anger, resentment and a world where we are pitted against one another.

In this world view, conflict seems inevitable, and we are told that we must act to defend ourselves and not let our guard down. But such a world narrows us, and we can so easily end up living in a bunker of our own creation – and paradoxically, wondering why we feel so alone.

This bright morning, I pray for the grace to let my guard down and to be open.

Amen.