Shannon Alford: My discernment process

My decision to volunteer lasted about seven years. When I was a freshman in college I had set my sights towards getting a business degree and moving to New York, but in the back of my mind a much stronger desire was lingering, my call to serve. I was unsure how I was going to survive (financially, emotionally, physically) simple living. I knew I wanted it, but I wasn’t convinced it would be worth the risk in the long-run. Inevitably, I would be proving myself wrong.

Discernment

“Discernment” is widely used to describe the process of choosing a religious vocation, but–as any full-time lay volunteer knows–the term is just as apropos to the decision of if, when and where to become a long-term volunteer.  Choosing to volunteer full-time for any length of time is a significant commitment. Joining a volunteer program such [...]