Editorial September 4, 1995 Issue

Goals, priorities— and spiritual discernment

William E. Moody

It's natural to look ahead and chart a course. And in many instances, it would be difficult to make measurable progress without setting solid goals and appropriate priorities. Institutions, governments, small businesses and multinational corporations, individuals and families—society itself—surely need to have direction, to know where they are heading and what is most important in reaching their destinations.

Not long ago, I learned about a business meeting in which a number of managers had come together to discuss their own goals and to reach consensus on the most significant priorities for their operations during the coming year. There was something about the way this meeting was conducted which, I thought, indicated a kind of standard that could most help other institutions and businesses, or anyone who is striving to clarify individual purposes and goals.

Early in the meeting, as the managers reviewed various options and how certain projects might proceed, and as they looked carefully at what steps and resources might be required, one of those in the group spoke of what she felt was an absolutely vital element. It was the role of spiritual discernment. She made clear that no matter what steps the group might agree on or what goals were set, the work wouldn't really succeed without trusting in spiritual sense, spiritual perception, to guide the business activities. Christians and all praying people would surely agree that this kind of prayer and discernment is essential at every step of the way in human experience.

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