A DAY OF QUESTIONING

In the
New Testament it is recorded that Jesus
asked over 170 questions to those he came in contact with.  Conversely, it is documented that Jesus was asked 183 questions…only 3 of
which he answered directly!  An interesting observation, especially in this day of bombastic religious leaders telling their flocks what to believe from top to bottom.  Many questions Jesus “answered” with another question. 
Obviously, he knew what it has taken therapists and spiritual
directors centuries to learn – that asking questions is more effective at getting
to the real answers than merely telling someone what to think or do. 

 One of
my favorite quotes is from Blaise Pascall, a 17^th Century
mathematician, philosopher and physicist:

All (wo)men's miseries derive

from not being able to sit

in a quiet room alone. 

 

So that's what a small group of souljourneying women did this past weekend...asked and answered some of those same questions Jesus put forth to those he encountered.  Questions like, "What are you thinking in your hearts?" and "Did not the Maker of the outside also make the inside?" - dealing with our tendency to care more about the externals rather than live as integrated, whole people.

One of my greatest joys, and my calling, is to provide that kind of solitude for women. My prayer is that through the stillness, the Spirit will bring healing, God will confirm the desires of their hearts and they will claim their true callings in order to transform the world.



As they sat down (in the quiet outdoors) with 5 questions, they took the time needed to peel back the layers of our
minds and hearts. Below are a few suggestions I gave them to
help begin and follow through with the questions.  It is a powerful exercise to sit with a list of meaningful questions...and hold them in your heart until answers come.

1. Before answering each question, begin by reciting to God the centering prayer you created for a few minutes. Try keeping your eyes open…


2. Sit in at least two different places as you answer the five questions to give yourself a change of perspective.


3. Start the process for each question by doing 5 minutes of free-writing. Write whatever comes to your mind, without regard for spelling, grammar and topic and without stopping or taking pen off paper.


4. As thoughts come to you, continue to ask yourself more questions. Use the old Who, What, When, Where and Why prompts to expand the thoughts you have.