Our visit in our nieces' home a few weeks ago was a beautiful experience. The last time I visited, Jackie hadn’t been born but now five; undeniably one of the most precocious children I’ve ever met. Her thought structure is absolutely amazing to me. I also noticed, almost immediately, she is unusual in the fact she asked, almost no questions. I understood more as to the reason when one of her parents told of her sharing, casually, earlier during the day, that she didn’t need to be promoted after kindergarten. Her reasoning was; she would have gained all the knowledge she would ever need in kindergarten. Jackie is unique and refreshing. It’s been my experience that most kids seem to use questions instinctively to find out about the world. Jackie is the midst of creating the world.
I think I've always been the average kid, starting with a question seems like a good idea. I think it helps to bring a sharper focus, it’s conversational, it reveals gaps in knowledge for me. Of course, I have honed questioning to the lazy types, but I’d like to think, more often the thoughtful types. I’m finding the difference is a bit difficult, as I’m thinking about it, but over the years, hearing or asking a great, a wonderful or amazing question, asked at the right time, hints to the reason why good, careful, thoughtful questions are always worth asking.
When it comes to questions about faith, I’ve experienced a lot of Christians pointing to the example of God asking Adam and Eve, ‘Where are you?,’ when He Knew where they were and the way in which Jesus interacts with people in the New Testament. Here are just a few of the questions, I’m finding Jesus asks: What are you looking for? What do you want Me to do for you? Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know Me? If you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you? Do you want to be well? Do you see this woman? What good is it to gain the whole world but forfeit your soul? Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Who is greater, the one seated at the table, or the one who serves? Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? Which of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God? Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I command? Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For which of these good works are you trying to stone Me? Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and He will not provide Me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? Would you like some breakfast? Have you come to believe because you have seen Me? I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? Do you love Me?
Well, from those questions can I assume that leading off with a thoughtful question isn’t so bad an idea? Even so, when I asked my grandniece, Jackie a leading question; her furrowed brow and beaded eyes indicated that my question was rhetorical, leading or loaded. Like: “is this great uncle trying my smarts or something”? As a Chaplain, it wasn’t uncommon for adults to be concerned about being unfaithful to God if they use and engage properly with questions. But, since I was a follower of Christ and followed His model it became one of the strongest if not the strongest reason for using them. And when Jesus asked a question it suddenly brought everything into focus, not just for the one He was asking, but for everyone listening as well. I’ve learned over time that Jesus’s often subversive questions summarizes and lifts up the prevailing authority structures, symbols, and assumptions. His questions lift them high up into the air for inspection, so that everyone can see more clearly the motives, traditions, assumptions, and all the wildness that often rages under the surface.
This recent, adventurous encounter with my darling great niece has churned my thinking that questions, more than likely, will help me concentrate, pay attention, and think along with the One providing all her answers to life. How could I ever forget those times when a good question transformed a meandering discussion into a life-changing moment for me or the other person, when reality broke through illusion.
Father, God, I thank you for Jackie and our first time meeting and in those moments, inducing my thinking about gently asking the right questions at the right time of myself or others. Help me, in these aged years to call out, as did so of T.S. Eliot: “Oh my soul, be prepared for the coming of the Stranger. Be prepared for him who knows how to ask questions.” Amen
