Asking questions

I have been challenged today by something I read on a web site. I have also been challenged to think differently based on a conversation I had today with an individual I regularly interact with in business. I know that I am at a place in life that I have lots of new opportunities opening up to me. The reality is, my reality, is that I am at a place in my life where I can choose to change the course of my life. I can chose to completely transform every area of my life. For the first time in my adult life I can choose how I want to live the rest of my life. I have never had that opportunity before. at least I never felt like I did. Now I do...

So today I have been inspired to make a significant change in my life. No longer am I going to be afraid of what others think of me and wanting to appear that I have all the answers, when I don't. I do however want to learn. I hope I never loose my passion for learning. Now however I am going to do something I very seldom do and that is to start asking questions. I am asking questions of myself, and my God, but also my friends, and those who inspire me, those who I respect and choose to learn from.

Questioning is often associated with doubt and is thought to be rebellious or unfaithful. But, we only learn more about God and our lives as his children by asking questions. To ask questions is to desire to find out if there is more to reality or a part of reality than I sense or experience or understand in the present moment. It is a desire to have clarification or translation of concepts, impressions or ideas so that we might confront and evaluate them. It is to participate in reality and be enabled to participate in reality. It is to avoid prejudiced or automatic reactions. It is to confess our faith in God Who can and will sustain us in the struggle and process of asking, learning and growing. (Is there any kind of growth without pain?) Asking questions is skeptical because we don't know, yet. T.S. Eliot wrote: "Skepticism is not infidelity or destructiveness, or unbelief due to mental sloth, but the habit of examining evidence and the capacity for delayed decision". (Not avoided decision.)

Jesus told us we must become like little children in order to belong in the Kingdom of Heaven. Little children constantly ask questions because they have faith in mommy and daddy, the world and God to give good answers. As "adults" we cripple ourselves with sophistication and fear and live in the smallest possible world. I no longer want to live in a small world. I want to be able to experience all that God has for me and the only way I know of to do that is to start asking questions.

Blessings,