A listening heart

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21
I thought of this verse when I heard Fr. Joe tell us about the possible end of his assignment at our parish, and again when he sent this week's email about his possible reassignment.
It's a tough call and I sincerely wish him the best in his soul searching because he certainly has a gift for helping people understand God's word.
I'm a relatively new parishioner here, having chosen this parish a year ago after moving back to Canada, so I can't pretend to know Fr. Joe as well as most people sitting in the pews around me.
What I do know is that like the last city I lived in, I attended different parishes until I found a place that "felt right", for lack of a better term. Blessed Sacrament is that place.
I think this is what Fr. Joe was driving at in his email this week when he emphasized the concept of "discernment", which dictionaries variously describe as an ability to grasp or comprehend what is obscure.
At times I've prayed for a certain outcome only to have that desire frustrated and later learn that either it was because something much better was coming along or my desired outcome was really just an illusion. When that happens, Proverbs 19:21 comes to mind.
I find it insightful that the author of Proverbs, King Solomon, prayed for a listening heart above all other things at his ascension to the throne.
It seems to me that we live our lives in a cacophony of distractions and it can be difficult to make discerning choices. (Dictionaries defining the adjective "discerning" as showing good judgement).
I would be sad to see Fr. Joe go, but if that's what's meant to be I'm sure it will become clear to him sooner or later because his gift for helping people understand God's word must come from having a heart that's more attuned to listening than mine or many other people