From “Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment” by J. Brent Bill
The novelist Vinita Hampton Wright talked to me about the seasons of her life and the leadings that accompanied them. During her twenties, she experienced a strong leading to do mission work outside the United States. “That desire was confirmed,” she said, “by an appointment [in the mission field]. I knew – despite my parents’ protests – that it was the right step. The experience itself – two years teaching in Jordan – was not easy, but definitely confirmed that I had made the right decision.”
Now, years later, she has been following a new leading. “I recently decided to go back to editorial work full-time,” she said, “which will be hard on my writing career, but the situation in my marriage requires it, and I am at peace with the decision and the difficulty it will bring.”
When I asked her how she listened to her life in making such a determination, she replied:
“When I needed to make some difficult decisions in my writing career, I talked to a very wise friend in the field, also well-respected in the industry and familiar with me and my work. Her advice had a strong impact on that decision. Most of the time, my decisions are determined by deep desire, along with opportunity, along with underlying principle or reason for the decision. My long-term commitments, such as my marriage, also weigh in heavily on any other decision. Although I don’t ask friends to help me make a decision, I usually want to hear what they have to say about a situation. Especially my close friends, who know me well, can help me see more clearly.”