I’ve been reflecting on discernment prompted by a memory of visiting with a friend who was telling me about a book she was reading and about which she was very excited.

while the topic of the book didn’t really interest me I listened for a few minutes mostly enjoying my friend’s pleasure in the topic.

after a few minutes my enjoyment turned to boredom and then to omg are you totally oblivious to the fact that I have absolutely no interest in this topic.

at the time I came away asking if I wanted to see this friend again . cos she was so insensitive

this morning I’m thinking perhaps what I saw/felt as insensitivity on her part was because she did not grow up in an environment where she learned to ‘read” how others felt about what she was saying.

the upside of this . for those of us who did grow up learning to “read” others and their responses. is that we may have an easier time with discernment which many are saying will be crucial in the days ahead