Rock & Roll Service

My husband and I are not regular church goers but on occasion attend - like this past Sunday. Once a year our local Anglican Church has a rock and roll service lead by our Reverend, a music-and-God-loving man, on lead guitar (accompanied by drums, bass, keyboards, and vocals). This Anglican Church is not a swinging New Age temple but rather steeped in the ancient, staid rituals of liturgy and communion each Sunday (and no, this is not a call for converts). So this past Sunday's service was in some ways a surprising divergence yet in another way, even with an electric rendition of traditional music the service and sermon remained very grounded in what is right, good and true.

Non Judgmental Progress?

This is a metaphor we can apply to our own lives as we experiment with our desires for the new. Constantly we are bombarded with the message that "new" is better and hence all progress - meaning that which is untried or new - is good. Worsening this situation, as eloquently stated in our Sunday sermon, is the "Enlightened" belief we are to be non-judgmental. This new, progressive image of the enlightened, non-judgmental human has parents, teachers and preachers alike careening away from the old image of the repressed, dogmatic, rigid person who's uptight about right and wrong. We see parents being best friends with their kids; and preachers and teachers throwing in swear words to show they are not uptight or judgmental.

But what have we lost in this so-called progressive, non-judgmental stance? When did dung become art? (Seriously, there is an artist whose medium is elephant dung and his work adorns gallery walls!) When did buying new cars, bigger houses, more advanced technology, new promotions, new clothes/body-makeover/looks, etc... ever buy any lasting happiness? When did a parent, teacher, preacher, or anyone - ever gain true respect from striving to be a part of the "new" progressive crowd? In many instances it seems this progressive, non-judgmental stance has been traded for our own discernment.

Discernment Leads to Rightness

Exceedingly, we need to use our own discernment based on principles of enduring goodness and truth in a world with much awry. We are told to maintain a positive attitude no matter what and to never talk about others behind their backs. Yet, what if we are working in an unhealthy environment; what if we are surrounded by toxic people; what if practices are unethical? If we followed the progressive, non-judgmental rule of the day we would likely stifle our truth and eventually become ill. Using our own discernment we realize something isn't right, and yes, of course we discuss our perceptions of others with people we can trust and look for next steps.

There are many "experts" out there today touting their beliefs and pet philosophies. Ongoing learning is invaluable but we must use our own discernment as to what is true and right and good for us. Whether we are working with an employment counselor, teacher, manager or the person next door we need to use our own discernment about what is being said. Ultimately no one else cares as much about us as we do; or can make our choices for us.

The more we flex our own discernment the clearer we get on what is right, good and true for us; the more we ground ourselves in our own being and reality; and the less we sway with every passing societal value or fad. Using our own discernment we are freer to take risks and chances we might otherwise have avoided, and rest assured, that the path we choose is indeed right for us.