Sifting Through

“Let us discern for ourselves what is right, let us learn together what is good.” Job 34:4

My cousin shared his memories with me about our house fire when both of us were teenagers. My cousin came with his dad the day after the fire, and together with my dad, they sifted through the rubble in search of anything of value. Dan recalls the smell that lingers in his soul even to this day. He had never experienced this type of tragedy, and the sight and smells have remained within him. During this Christmas season, I sifted through my tote of memories in search of letters that I have treasured from my mom. In the sifting through, I found two letters from my dad which are probably the only ones he ever wrote to any of his children.

At the end of the Christmas season, we sift through the sale racks and the half off Christmas decorations to find a hidden treasure. We sift through the bargain racks in hopes of finding something perfect. Each time we sift through something, we are looking for something of value, something that has meaning to us. To sift through is to discern if what we find has value and purpose. Sometimes it only has value because of the memory.

I no longer write New Year’s resolutions or goals, but now I choose a word for the year. This year I have chosen “Discern.” To discern is to recognize or identify as distinct, to perceive, to determine, to sift through. When you discern, you understand, comprehend, and grasp the meaning. For me, I want to discern God’s will and direction for this year. I want to pray and talk with God and listen for God’s voice in my heart. But in this discernment, I need to sift through the chatter of this world and my own thoughts. My desire is to discern what God is saying to me which may be different than what others perceive from God. Discernment is personal and specific to an individual. It is sifting through the noises and voices around me and finding the One that gives value and purpose to my life.

As we begin 2025, we reflect on the past year and what we had hoped would happen. We review in our head the good and the struggles, and we discern the purpose and meaning of the events of the past. In these ruminations, we also wonder why certain things happened and also seek to find the blessings among the challenges. We remember the adventures, the relationships, and the struggles. For some of you, the new year brings a different life because of the loss of a loved one. Some of you are experiencing the journey of health issues and the diagnosis of an illness. You are trying to discern why you or your family member has to go through this difficulty.

To discern involves our reflections on the past. We are trying to understand the “whys” of life. Why did this happen? Why him? Why her? Why now? In this understanding also comes an acceptance that I may never grasp the entire meaning, but I need to trust that God is still with me and in the situation. God was with you in the past and that does not change. I need to learn from the past but not continue to live in it and allow the past to control my present. The past is our foundation for the present. This is also discernment.

My word for 2024 was “listen,” and I was more intentional on listening to other people and what was really important to them. I was more focused on listening to what God was saying to me in the Bible and in my quiet time. To me, discernment is the next step to deepen my relationship with God and with all my relationships. To discern involves listening but with a focus on understanding the meaning of not only what is being said but how does it apply to my life or my relationship with the person. It is discerning my purpose for today.

May this new year bring discernment for you as you listen to God and the next steps God has for you. Remember, it is one step at a time and focusing on what is in front of you.

My Books on Amazon

Live Different Moments

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

Living In The Different

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/