Standalone Essays · Triad of Stewardship

Discernment: The Banker’s Eye

“As a banker can tell a false bill from a true one by having handled thousands of true ones, you can discern falsehood by being constantly true.” The Compass teaches that discernment comes from a lifetime of honest living. Many people feel the opposite — that constant honesty leads to a form of naivete, while craftiness or wiliness is the way to avoid being conned. It’s true that many believe being too honest or trusting makes them vulnerable to being taken advantage of. But the Compass offers a different perspective on the relationship between honesty and discernment. Honesty is not just about being truthful in our words and actions, but also about being true to ourselves and our values. By living a life of integrity and consistency, we develop a deep sense of self-awareness and clarity that allows us to recognize falsehood and deception in others. Discernment is not just about detecting external cues or behaviors; it is about developing an internal sense of truth and authenticity. By being constantly true to ourselves and our values, we can cultivate a kind of “sixth sense” that helps us navigate complex social situations and avoid being misled. This doesn’t mean we should be naive or gullible. Rather, honesty and discernment are not mutually exclusive but complementary qualities that work together to guide us toward a life of authenticity and wisdom.

“The average person sees what their minds want to see and is blind to what they do not wish to perceive. In contrast, you must train yourself to see things for what they are, and not what you want them to be.” There are several ways to train ourselves toward this kind of sight. Practice mindfulness, paying attention to the present moment without judgment or distraction; practiced regularly, it develops greater awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions, so that we can recognize when our minds are filtering or distorting reality. Seek out diverse perspectives, exposing ourselves to a wide range of viewpoints and experiences, which helps us challenge our own biases and assumptions. Engage in critical thinking, analyzing information objectively, asking questions, and evaluating evidence, so that we learn to recognize logical fallacies, cognitive biases, and other forms of mental distortion. And practice self-reflection, taking time to examine our own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to identify patterns that may be limiting our ability to see things accurately.

None of these are encouraged in any meaningful way in our society. Rather than mindfulness, we practice near-constant distractedness. Rather than diverse perspectives, social media creates echo boxes. Rather than critical thinking, we choose confirmation bias in our news and political affiliations. Rather than self-reflection, we are offered continuous entertainment and “content.” This is why it’s so important for individuals to take ownership of their own mental and spiritual growth, and to consciously cultivate habits and practices that support these qualities. It’s also worth noting that there are communities and movements within society that do prioritize these values — meditation groups, critical thinking classes, social justice movements — and by seeking out and connecting with these communities, we can find support and inspiration for our own growth. Ultimately, the challenge that lies before each of us is to resist the dominant culture of distraction, confirmation bias, and superficiality, and instead create a life that is rooted in mindfulness, curiosity, and self-awareness. That is the whole point of Sojournism.

“It is difficult for a loud, talkative person to be discerning. There is simply too much noise in their brains.” This is not bias against extroverts. There are many aspects of Sojournism that value social interaction, community-building, and communication, all of which are often associated with extroverted personalities. What the Compass emphasizes here is the importance of cultivating inner stillness and self-awareness, which can be challenging for people who are constantly talking, listening, or engaging with others. That doesn’t mean extroverts can’t be discerning or self-aware. Rather, they may need to find different strategies for cultivating these qualities — taking regular breaks from social interaction, practicing meditation or mindfulness, or engaging in solo activities like journaling or creative expression. Sojournism values diversity of personality and temperament, and recognizes that everyone has their own unique path to growth and fulfillment.

It is important to note the exact word: the Compass says it is “difficult,” not impossible. Everyone has their own unique challenges, and this just happens to be one that is particularly pernicious for loud, brash people. The Compass is not saying that extroverted people can’t be discerning, but that they may have to work harder to cultivate the inner stillness and self-awareness that are often associated with discernment. Just as introverted people may have to work harder to develop social skills or public speaking abilities, extroverted people may need to make a conscious effort to develop their inner world and their capacity for self-reflection. The point is not to judge or stereotype people based on their personality traits, but to recognize that everyone has their own unique strengths and challenges when it comes to personal growth.

“Don’t equate discernment with suspicion or paranoia.” Suspicion is a form of negative bias: the suspicious expect “dirty deeds” and soon see them everywhere. There is also a kind of fulfilled prophecy at work. What this describes is the phenomenon known as self-fulfilling prophecy, which can occur when we hold negative beliefs or expectations about ourselves or others. If we approach the world with a negative bias and expect people to be dishonest or untrustworthy, we may inadvertently create an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion that actually encourages people to behave in ways that confirm our negative beliefs. If we are suspicious of our coworkers and constantly monitor their behavior for signs of betrayal or deception, they may pick up on our mistrust and become more guarded or defensive around us, which in turn can lead to misunderstandings or conflicts that further fuel our suspicion. This is why it’s so important to cultivate discernment without falling into the trap of suspicion or paranoia. By approaching people and situations with an open mind and a willingness to trust, we create a more positive and collaborative atmosphere that encourages honesty and goodwill.

I can speak to this from experience. Decades ago, I chose to work in an area of a city that was famous for its crime, poverty, and terrible race relations between the police and the populace. Having grown up in Africa, I held zero racial bias against blacks. To this day, I often get along better with black people than I do whites. This is in spite of the fact that American blacks have a completely different culture than Africans. But I went in expecting to be well received and expecting to like people and — lo and behold — that was the case. I had a great reception and was able to work there successfully. At one point I protected a young girl in my care against physical assault. Turns out the assailant was her drunk, criminal father. After the altercation was over and the police came and got him, I thought the incident would be detrimental to my work. But if anything, it enhanced it. People saw that I could be trusted to protect their children, and so they brought them to me. Suspicion and racial bias or xenophobia of whatever stripe just don’t have any place in Sojournism.

“Do not act on an accusation unless two or three witnesses can verify it.” The Compass states that this “two or three witness” principle is “age-old,” and it is right. The principle is very ancient and widespread. In Judaism it belongs to the tradition of the beit din, but it can be found in many other cultures, religions, and legal systems throughout history. Christianity references it in several New Testament passages, such as Matthew 18:16 and 2 Corinthians 13:1. Islam includes a verse, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:282, that requires two witnesses for financial transactions and other important agreements. In ancient Athenian law, at least two witnesses were required to convict someone of a crime in court. Roman law likewise required at least two witnesses for certain legal proceedings, such as trials for treason. And in the Buddhist monastic code, the Vinaya, at least two witnesses are required to confirm a monk’s violation of the rules. The convergence is its own kind of evidence — that discernment, to be trusted, must rest on more than a single set of eyes.

Part of the Triad of Stewardship’s Standalone Essays. Companion pieces: Forgiveness and Its Limits (forthcoming) · The Mandates of Conflict · Criminal Justice.