How to Discern What is the Good and Right Thing to Do (Part 5)
We learned last week that goals, duties and virtues are invaluable tools for us in the decision-making process. Remember, God wants to help us, even when our decisions are complex! We can be confident that Jesus will give us the light that we need, even if it’s just enough light for taking one step in a long journey.
How, then, do we apply goals, duties, and virtues to specific situations in daily life? The process involves three steps: limiting, finding common ground, and formation.
Step One: Limiting
Limiting refers to the ways we suspend our self-interest in the interest of others. People around us have claims upon us, especially our family members. Since everyone is created in the image of God, then the act of humbling oneself in obedient, faithful action to God in meeting the claims of our neighbors will go a long way in helping us meet our goals, live out our duties, and conduct ourselves virtuously in the way of Christ.
Step Two: Finding Common Ground
Finding common ground acknowledges that, in any given situation and decision, my actions will impact another person(s). As we strive to be like Jesus, we will sometimes be tempted, however, to use people for our own ends/goals. Finding common ground means that we see the personhood of another. People are not to be viewed as means to our ends. Remember, we are to move from an “I-It” relationship to an “I-You” one. How then will our actions and decisions impact those around us?
Step Three: Formation
Formation refers to the ways in which we put our own unique stamp on something. God created us with our own unique personality and skill sets. In any given decision, we have opportunities to give shape to how things may turn out. In other words, we’re not simply to resign ourselves to fate or to focus merely on what makes us happy only for a moment. For instance, some of the chief ways we participation in formation is through prayer, worship, and loving action.
Considering that we have now looked at the triad of goals, duties, and virtues as well as the triad of limiting, finding common ground, and formation—let’s get really practical! Next week, we will put all of this together in the final article of the series.