What would I do if I never got the credit for it?

There are a number of questions that people ask themselves as they try to live lives of character. Two common ones are:

- What would Jesus do?

- Would I still do this if other people found out?

I have one that I think is worth considering to add:

- Would I do this if no-one knew it was me - if I never get the credit for it?

This is the opposite of the question that checks to see if you would only do something if you knew you would not get caught or seen. This one asks if you only do something in order to get recognition for it. I have a larger problem with ego than with shame, so this is an appropriate one for me. A wise man once said "There is no limit to what you can do if you do not care who gets the credit."

And I think the example is worth following of "He must increase, but I must decrease" - from one whose task was not to draw praise for himself but to point to someone fundamentally more important.

How can I succeed?

I know a man who's personal quest is t obe good at succeeding, and is always asking what needs to be done in order to succeed. Not in the Machiavelli sense, but in the practical wisdom sense (chokhmah). He will take steps to make an action plan, seek out people for advice and guidence, and determine how to evaluate his progress. The good thing is that this is applicable to a wide range of goals, so this is a good question to borrow from him.

What shall we enjoy for lunch?

I once knew a man who's question is difficult to put into English, especially American English. The best I can render it is "What shall we enjoy for lunch?"  Though he was not French (or Italian) he viewed food as something to be *enjoyed*. To set aside the worries of life, and the burden of ambition, and just enjoy well made bread.

What can you do?

I once met a man who was giving a seminar and this was his question. He was a 10th degree black belt - founder of his own style of martial arts. He would put a student in a difficult spot - some kind of hold or restraint - and then ask "What can you do?"

An impressive question. The way he asked it was not "What can you do?" as in

"Oh well, nothing can be done"

or even:

"Show off or prove something to me"

but rather:

"Think! Be creative! Do not give up!"

The question captured the essence of always having an active mind and an indomitable spirit.

Vorlons and Shadows

I confess that I like J Michael Straczynski's ploy of defining some of his races in Babylon 5 by a question.

 

- The Shadow question: What do you want?

- The Vorlon question: Who are you?


Just for fun, let's make up a list for groups on earth:

 

- The American question: Does it work?

 

- The French question: Does it work - in theory?

 

- The German question: Is it in order?

 

- The Chinese question: Are we in harmony?

 

- The Dutch question: Is it clean?

 

Any suggestions for more to add...

How can God know the future?

I once had a job where I to sit for long hours monitoring a machine that required minimal attention. So, I time to ponder this one. I think there are four questions that would need to be answered to make sense out of "How can God know the future?". (This would also apply to understanding predestination since one aspect of predestination is how God and the future relate.)

1) What is God's velocity and His distance from the nearest gravitational bodies?

How time flows is a factor of velocity and gravity, therefore to understand how God perceives time you must know His velocity and the gravitational fields He is in. (The velocity and gravity part is a well establish part of Einstein's theories.)

2) Before God created anything how much time passed?

Time is measured by events. What does it mean to say time passed if there were no events?

3) How does an uncreated being differ from a created being?

4) How does a creator differ from His creation?

Note that this is a little different from 3) which asks about the difference in natures. This question goes to the relationship as it regards the existence.


I cannot tackle these four questions, so I am quite sure that I cannot tackle the primary question. My best answer is that mixing God and time leads to confusion.

Why do Xians and Jews seem to talk past each other?

I have seen a number of conversations (mostly on the web) where Xians and Jews are discussing religious things. My impression is that they frequently talk past each other, like two skew lines neither intersecting or running in parallel. After pondering this, I submit that the reason is that the core question in each religion is different:

The Xian question: How can I be saved?

If you are not up on Xian-speak, this could also be rendered – How can I be made right with God? It could also less accurately be asked as – How can I get to heaven? Or How can I have a place in the World to Come?

I have seen on a Roman Catholic site - "How can I receive God's grace?" and I submit that the nuances between "How can I be saved?" and "How can I receive God's grace" illustrate some of hte differences between Evangelicals and Catholics.

The Jewish question: How should I live?

I think that part of this comes from the fact that in Xianity people are born outside of a covenant with God and must enter. In Judaism, Jews are already in a covenant and have been for a long time. It is not that Jews never ask about being right with God or the World to Come, and it is not that Xians never ask how they should live. It just seems that the default question of each is not the same. Xians spend much time, energy, and focus on witnessing, converting, being born again, etc. Jews (well religious Jews) seem to spend a great deal of time on figuring out exactly how they should observe Torah.

I know far less about Islam than either Xianity or Judaism, so I am still trying to figure out their question. My best shot right now is:

The Muslim question: Will you submit?

And just for fun, if I had to pick a question for Jesus, it would be: Who do you say that I am?

Jesus had this fascinating characteristic to be both humble and meek while at the same time He acts as though it is all about Him. And He does it so matter of factly. He does not seem boastful or arrogant, yet He still seems to regard Himself as the center of all things.

Why this blog?

Finding a good question can be better than getting an answer. I collect questions and like a zillion other people felt like putting my thoughts in a blog. Who will read this? I have no idea.