Most of us have found ourselves stuck in that unending cycle of question and answers with a young child. “It is time for bed” “Why?” “Because it is late and you need your rest” “Why?” “Because you are a young growing boy and young boys need rest” “Why?” “Rest helps you grow” “Why?” … on and on it goes until someone gives up and falls asleep or says, “Because I said so!”
We can learn a lot from children. Their questioning may be annoying at times but there is wisdom in their continual questions. Too often we take a situation at face value or respond to it based upon our own experience without stopping to ask “why” something is happening. It might be good for us to look at each other, our friends, family members, community members and those in the world who do not reflect our life experience, beliefs or ethnic background and ask “Why?” “Why, do they feel this way?” “Why do they think this way?” “Why do they view the world in a way I struggle to understand?” “Why do they feel it is important to speak, act, take a stand on issues that I may not view as important?” If we are not careful asking questions like little children might lead to understanding and caring for one another in ways that would bring honor and glory to God…bring about the fulfillment of the prayer so many of us pray “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done.”
The sad truth is that we spend little time asking others the question “why?” Instead we think first of our own agendas. We jump to the narrative of our life which we have learned since birth. We may ask ourselves “why?” Our answers are often simple and quick. Such answers tend to “paint” ourselves in a good light and find the simplest and most convenient ways in which to explain the behavior of others. It is in those moments of simple and convenient answers it would do us well to start thinking like a three year old and start asking “Why?” [Read more…]
