The cool air is welcome, and delightful and so much different from that humid heat we have had for several days. And it is much more conducive to thought.
Benjamin Franklin, in his autobiography, is talking about debating or discussion clubs. He found, he admitted, when he made a strong statement that it often sort of dried up any real discussion. So he started to begin his answers with “It seems to me”, or just to ask “What do you mean?, or simply “why?" And he said he discovered the value of debate, and the real value of questions.
That reminded me of a little poem by Rudyard Kipling that started this way:
Benjamin Franklin, in his autobiography, is talking about debating or discussion clubs. He found, he admitted, when he made a strong statement that it often sort of dried up any real discussion. So he started to begin his answers with “It seems to me”, or just to ask “What do you mean?, or simply “why?" And he said he discovered the value of debate, and the real value of questions.
That reminded me of a little poem by Rudyard Kipling that started this way:
“I keep six honest serving-men,
(They taught me all I knew);
Their name are What and Why and When,
And How and Where and Who?”
Questions. Remember the TV detective Columbo? He always left a scene with “Oh, by the way", and ask one more question. That often gave him the clue he needed to solve the puzzling case.
Indeed, questions teach, help us understand, learn from one another, so establish relations that go deeper than the meaningless, “How are you doing?” Questions expose hidden motives, real feelings, and deep wounds. Questions help identify dreams or disappointments, and hollowness or insincerity.
One Pastor once answered when another accused him of teaching false doctrine. He answered this way, “A long time ago I learned that before accusing anyone of anything, I should always ask them clarifying questions.” The ‘conflict’ was resolved when both sat down for such a question session which brought a totally reasonable and acceptable explanation. Because someone asked questions.
Through the years I make it a practice to look to the Bible for light. Look at the questions one finds there. When Jesus asked questions, they cut to the heart. “Where is your faith. Wherefore did you doubt?” “Who do men say that I am?” “Who do you say that I am?” “What good is it if you gain the world and lose your own soul ?” “Would you really lay down your life for me?” Or, to Peter, asked three times, “Do you love Me?”
Or the Lord asking Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” Or think of the seven words that brought down Saul’s carefully constructed world of hard-nosed religion. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"
So questions, these “six honest serving men”, use them to learn, to examine, to illustrate, to enlighten. And in this, may God give you peace.
GPD 10/17/09
Indeed, questions teach, help us understand, learn from one another, so establish relations that go deeper than the meaningless, “How are you doing?” Questions expose hidden motives, real feelings, and deep wounds. Questions help identify dreams or disappointments, and hollowness or insincerity.
One Pastor once answered when another accused him of teaching false doctrine. He answered this way, “A long time ago I learned that before accusing anyone of anything, I should always ask them clarifying questions.” The ‘conflict’ was resolved when both sat down for such a question session which brought a totally reasonable and acceptable explanation. Because someone asked questions.
Through the years I make it a practice to look to the Bible for light. Look at the questions one finds there. When Jesus asked questions, they cut to the heart. “Where is your faith. Wherefore did you doubt?” “Who do men say that I am?” “Who do you say that I am?” “What good is it if you gain the world and lose your own soul ?” “Would you really lay down your life for me?” Or, to Peter, asked three times, “Do you love Me?”
Or the Lord asking Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” Or think of the seven words that brought down Saul’s carefully constructed world of hard-nosed religion. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"
So questions, these “six honest serving men”, use them to learn, to examine, to illustrate, to enlighten. And in this, may God give you peace.
GPD 10/17/09
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