?QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS? - The Evolution of My Own Thinking

I think it was nicely said in the movie The Matrix, "it's the question that drives us". When I sat down this last month thinking about the way I think and where it has gotten me today, I am almost bewildered. Growing up, I never asked questions; actually I almost didn't know how to 'ask' questions; well at least what I thought were not "worthy" enough questions to ask outloud. Here are some of the questions I remember thinking about (remember, this is me as a kid):

- Why is it that I can look straight and see other stuff peripherally?
- Who made God? Where'd his parents go?
- How painful are the wrestling moves on WWF? (of course later I found it was fake...why would they tell me that!! boo!!)
- Why do guys like going to the mall to check out girls? I mean, girls are everywhere!
- Why are vegatables the only thing that's good for you?
- How come every time I wash shrimp, I can't wash the smell from my hands?
- Where do all these fly's come from?
- Where does the 'poop' go after I flush the toilet? Man, there must be a big tank somewhere!
- If my Mom believes in God, how come he didn't make her better when I said I would give my life to save her? (my Mom passed from cancer)?
- Why did God take Dad too? (my Dad passed from heart disease)
- Does anyone think of the same questions I am thinking?
- What is 'cool'?

When I look back, I realized I focused on a lot of things other people did not. I asked questions that were so abstract, and well, not finding the answers frustrated me. At the same time, I never asked these questions to anyone, because I felt I would either be ignored or feared that they were "stupid" questions, and stupid questions were not 'cool'...God!!! What is cool?!!!!

>>>Fast foward >>>

As of the last 17 years, I obviously have grown up, and find myself more bold to ask questions. Mostly because I have to know, and partially because I have this wierd feeling sometimes that someone will ask me the same question and that I better have some intelligible answer. But one thing I do notice of the quality of my questions- they are more relational. They are more questions about why something does/does not work in context/relation to someone/something else. Here are some of them:

- Why is the divorce rate still so high, given we have so many therapists, counselors and help books available?
- Why do many people in the church not 'feel' as genuine as my friends who do not go to church?
- What is really driving the stock market? Facts or emotions?
- Why does the U.S. always feel like it needs to fight other wars when we have trouble fixing our own national problems and wasting money figuring it out.
- Man, why did WWE have to be fake wrestling? Boo I said!!!
- Why do good companies still employ bad practices?
- How come there are always studies on debunking other studies about a certain product or food? For instance, within a 10 year period, I saw the news say 1st, peanut butter may be good for you, then later, peanut butter not so good for you. Make up your mind researchers before opening your mouths!!!!!
- What is the limit of grace? In the context of Christianity and socially throughout the society?
- Why do politicians always use the SAME issues as the platform for their campaigns, every single term, for the last 20+years? (i.e. education, healthcare, taxes, soc. security). Is there ever going to be a sense of satisfaction?
- Why does the news/media always seem to know where the late breaking stories are, and happen to be there on the spot at that instance? I know where some places are, in So. California, and sometimes it takes a long time to get to it. Hmmm??.....
- Why does the media spend 85% of the newscast telling us who died or who got killed? There is more to life than death people!!!!!
- Why do women love shoes, purses and jeans so much? (I had to throw that in there; I might get shot down for that one..haha)

I actually do have theories and reasonings for a lot of the questions I've asked/not asked over the years. I realize some questions will always have open-ended answers, and I realize that every person will have a different perspective, depending on how they were reared. Whatever the case, I think a good question ought to bring people together, not cause more problems. Asking good questions is so important to cultivating great relationships, and I think the type of questions that are asked are a sort of barometer of maturity, no matter what age. Of course the flip side of that is being responsible to respond, and in the most helpful manner possible. And of course, there are those questions that I don't like being asked, and I'm learning take it in stride and keep pushing to be open about everything about my life. I think genuine curiosity ought to be appreciated more so than it has over the years. I really undervalued my own curiosity in the early years, but now that I am of the age of understanding, I will always remind myself that no question is ever really "dumb", cuz after all, I do have to start somewhere.

Man, why didn't I ask more questions when I was younger?!! :)