Discernment: A Grumps’ Guide to Seeing Through the Bullshit

Ah, discernment. That word you’ve likely heard today—probably from someone patting themselves on the back for rejecting something you thought was cool. It’s one of those terms that gets tossed around like a cheap frisbee at the dog park, especially by people who think they’ve got some kind of divine VIP access to “the truth.” Politicians, religious leaders, influencers—they all love it. It’s their favorite “I don’t have to think” card, wielded like a sword to cut down any pesky facts or contradictions that don’t fit their agenda. They’ve got the shiny halo of righteousness, the sacred badge of unshakeable confidence. And if you’re not on their side? Clearly, you must be lacking in this mystical skill.

But hold up. Before you toss discernment in the trash as just another buzzword used by the self-righteous, let’s remember what it’s really about. At its core, discernment has nothing to do with holy books, special visions, or whether your pastor thinks your Netflix queue is a gateway to the underworld. Real discernment? It’s about clear thinking, cutting through the endless noise, and seeing things for what they are. It’s not some divine superpower reserved for the pious; it’s a mental muscle we all have—though, yeah, some people are clearly skipping their reps.

The real problem is how discernment gets twisted. The folks in power—whether they’re perched in politics, religion, or culture—love to sell it as their secret weapon. They’ll claim they’ve got this sixth sense, a high-level ability to “see the truth” that the rest of us poor saps are apparently too blind to notice. Spiritual X-ray vision, they’ll call it. They’ll tell you what’s good, what’s dangerous, what’s real, what’s fake. It’s convenient for them—except it’s usually just a fancy distraction to keep you from asking questions or, God forbid, thinking for yourself.

Let’s get one thing straight: discernment isn’t about following the herd or regurgitating whatever some talking head spoon-fed you last night. It’s about using your own brain—that lovely chunk of grey matter between your ears. It’s about forming your own opinions, questioning what you hear, and maybe even admitting when you’re wrong. Real discernment means realizing you don’t know everything, acknowledging your biases, and being willing to shake up your beliefs when the facts demand it.

And these days, in the glorious age of fake news, conspiracy theories, and whatever the hell your uncle just shared on Facebook, discernment is more important than ever. It’s your filter, the thing that helps you sift through the garbage, propaganda, and outright lies that bombard you from every direction. It’s not just about using your intellect; it’s about trusting your instincts, drawing from experience, and having the guts to say, “Wait a second, that doesn’t add up.”

So, how do you sharpen this elusive thing called discernment? Start by questioning everything. Don’t take anything at face value, especially if the person presenting it has a lot to gain. Dig deeper, challenge your own assumptions, and actively seek out perspectives that don’t just pat your beliefs on the back. Sure, it’s easier to stick with the path of least resistance and assume someone smarter has it all figured out. But that’s not discernment—that’s intellectual laziness dressed up as wisdom.

Here’s the kicker: discernment isn’t just an intellectual exercise. It’s a way of life. It means being awake, paying attention, and living deliberately. It’s about aligning your choices with your values—not the ones someone else keeps insisting you adopt. Because let’s be real: “the powers that be” almost never have your best interests at heart. Discernment is about thinking for yourself, reflecting on what really matters to you, and refusing to let someone else dictate what’s true.

The world is jam-packed with bullshit. From the 24-hour news cycle to the constant stream of social media nonsense, from religious pulpits to corporate boardrooms, it’s a buffet of half-truths, spin, and manufactured outrage. But here’s the good news: if you keep your skepticism sharp and your bullshit detector on high alert, you’ll be just fine. You’ll cut through the nonsense like a seasoned pro, and in doing so, you’ll live more authentically, more intentionally, and with a whole lot less patience for the con artists of the world.

So, next time someone tells you they’ve got all the answers, that they’ve seen the light and are here to guide you to salvation—smile, nod, and politely tell them to shove their “discernment” where the sun doesn’t shine. You’ve got your own, and you know exactly how to use it.