Living the Question

For most people, life is full. Full of commitments and things they want to do. There is not a lot of time left to daydream or doodle. Days slip through our fingers without time to ponder and smell the roses.

Technology has made our lives easier. We are no longer breaking our backs over the 'copper' to do the weekly washing, no laborious kneading of bread or flipping through endless pages to find answers.

For some people, the status-quo is more comfortable and feels safer than to go and explore other options or opportunities.  For others, the time is not right; the finances or other commitments are limiting. And so nothing changes—the comfort of the present situation out ways the discomfort of looking for alternatives.

Technology is wonderful. It has saved so much time; we can find answers to all our questions and get on with life. Or can we?

What about the questions of purpose and meaning? Also, do we need an immediate answer, or can we live with uncertainty; watching and waiting to see how things develop, living with uncertainty and maybe doubt?

For the more profound life questions, there may not be an immediate answer, and how would we know what the right answer is anyway?

Rainer Maria Rilke's famous quote about 'living the question' suggests that living the question is more important than the answer; that we learn and experience life to its fullness.

What question are you carrying?

What is on the forefront of your mind? Where is God; what is your calling or what is happens to you when you die? These are only a few of the deep questions of life. To live with uncertainty is a challenge for most of us. We want answers to all our problems and wonderings. Whether the query is simple or complex, in our instant society, we want answers immediately.

Living with the questions is being comfortable with not knowing. Which raises the question: "how would you know that it is the right answer?"

It could be as straightforward as choosing your spouse. Deep down, you know what is right, what feels True. The next step is acting on that knowledge or feeling; this could be the tricky part!

To live the question is to engage with your spiritual side, to make time to nurture the question and allow it to develop and expand into your life.

Brother Lawrence suggests 'to practise the presence of God', to living with awareness.

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. Gautama Buddha