The blessing of a good question -- Originally posted in June 2007

The day begins with gratitude -- for safe passage through the night, for the function of my physical systems (aging to be sure.... but healthy as far as I know), for the blessing and privilege of yet another day to experience life and serve someone.

Questions usually emerge in that first hour of prayer. Sometimes the questions are practical, focusing upon prioritizing and moving towards some choice or plan. Often, though, it is a time to dwell in wonder...to simply wonder about a sight or situation enables me to cultivate a patient acceptance of the limits of my human knowledge. Wonder moves me to receptivity -- hands, heart and mind wide open to the gift of what might be bestowed in the space that is free from my need to know specific points of what I see as reality.

I have learned that once I feel certain about something, there is often an end to the attitude of wonder. In other words, I may be prone to pray less frequently about something once the questions I had about the situation seem to be answered. This is not necessarily a good thing -- because if I am really living in a way that is open to the dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit, then all things and all situations are constantly in a process of movement to yet another phase of God's will for mission and purpose of this life I call mine.

Therefore, I love the questions that are a part of my life. A good question may be more life giving...more creative...than a solid answer. Consider the following quote, and accept what it may say to you about any questions you ponder:

Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Rilke