Friends Explain Quaker Discernment

Reader Responses

What is a leading (or a “calling” or a “nudge”)?

How do you distinguish the voice of the Spirit from all others?

"My husband’s ex-wife has early onset Alzheimer’s and is in a care facility about 25 minutes from our home. I met her once, almost twenty years ago. His son lives in another state. His daughter lives nearby, but is estranged from her mother. It has always broken my heart that no one goes to see her, though at this point she doesn’t seem to remember many people.

We were visiting his son and his family a couple months ago. They were talking about how much they wished there was someone who could get a look at her, see how she is, not just hear reports from the staff. When I left, I felt a pull, being drawn in my mind and in my heart, to go visit her. It wasn’t an idea; it didn’t require thought or formation or development. It was a concept, nonverbal, telling me to volunteer to go visit her. My husband wasn’t pleased with the idea, but I told him, 'I’m being called.' I hadn’t really thought of it that way until I said it out loud."

Toni W.-J., Burleson, Texas, USA

"I hold my discernment as this holy gift that brightens my path forward and reveals a way opening. To be present with my concerns and hold my suffering as I would a crying baby, I am able to utilize love as an action verb. I feel leadings in my body everywhere. I feel this rush of joy and ease in my heart and chest and belly. Sometimes my hands open and my palms face up. I know when the voice of spirit is with me because I feel ready and prepared even when all that lies ahead is uncertain. I can feel uncertain and feel prepared because I have the tools of discernment to light my way forward."

SlowWorm A., Stony Brook, NY, USA

"Over the past year, I have been experiencing a spiritual nudge, characterized by a subtle yet unrelenting pull on my soul to act on an idea that remains steadfast in my consciousness. I am aware that this is a spiritual nudge due to its persistent nature, despite my recognition that it will require a considerable commitment from me with potentially limited or no discernible reward."

Douglas V., Accokeek, MD, USA

"A true calling is very rare, I've only experienced it twice in my 64 years. I would describe it as feeling an intuition to do something and knowing there is no choice but to do it. I think what we call intuition is often Spirit nudging or guiding us, but we can choose to ignore it or ponder it, maybe tweak it before acting on it - but a calling is required to be followed, as is. I have also done good works - mothering, my career in public health, my volunteer work in retirement - that I'd describe as a 'calling', a thing I was meant to do that was Spirit led, but it's not the same as the call, the 'demand', to act in the moment."

Wendy L., Vallejo, CA, USA

"I have found that a leading arises from a growing interest in a need or situation which keeps presenting itself in different ways. It becomes more concrete when I begin to share the interest with others. It takes shape as a genuine leading when opportunities begin to present themselves and friends encourage me to step forward into action despite doubts I may have about my ability or capacity. I have noted many times now that when I face the challenge of following a leading, assistance arrives in various forms, and almost as certainly as the assistance, a challenge of some kind soon follows lest I make the mistake of relying on my own strength and forget to lean on the divine Guide."

Yvonne D., Bicester, Oxfordshire, UK