Two Questions

 

“I would rather have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned.” ~ Richard Feynman

For about a month now, I’ve been mulling over a reflection exercise that a friend shared. The exercise was based on a Bible text found in Luke 9:18-20. It is about a conversation that Jesus had with his disciples where he asked them 2 questions – ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ and ‘Who do you say I am?’

Based on those 2 questions, the reflection exercise now asks you to ponder 2 questions of your own: ‘Who do people say I am?’ and ‘Who do I say I am?’

These are hard questions to ponder. Do I know what people say about me? I am many different things to many people so who do they know me to be? But, more importantly, who do I say I am? Do I know what I stand for, what I value, and who I am becoming? Do I know me?

These are certainly good questions to be considering at this time of the year. We are just about wrapping up in 2023 with 9 days to go. So what better time to clarify who you were, determine who you are, and design who you want to become in 2024?

The YearCompass has been a dependable guide for me over many years now in my annual review and planning exercise. They just released the 2024 booklet – find it here and make your end-year review process that much easier. And yes, you are welcome. 

Back to our 2 questions – I had a struggle with the first one. I’m generally not a person who gives two pence about others’ thoughts about me but on closer inspection of the context of that question, it was important to Jesus to figure out if his mission was successful. Has anyone figured it out yet? Did he have at least one person who got it? Was there anyone who understood what he was about and could at least be entrusted with carrying on the work as his time was almost up?

In my case, have I invested time in being known by anyone, or am I a lone ranger who thinks everyone misunderstands me? Have I identified any irons that I can rub against and get sharper even as I return the favor? Am I all acquaintances and social media connections but no flesh and blood relationships?

Thankfully, I recognized my need for deep connections early and I have a few that I have worked on for years now. I am grateful for friends that I can go to and find answers to that first question.

Question 2 – who do I say I am?

Hmmmmm. I will not even attempt to delve into that one here. It is a great work in progress as well as a project I am consciously procrastinating on. It is also essential information to have. If I don’t know who I am at this time, then how do I know what I want? How do I know what I am becoming? How do I know what my boundaries are – what I can and cannot accept from others? This calls for deep work to identify my reality as well as my ideal, and after that to inform my plan of getting from here to there.

Are you up to the task? Do you think it is worth your time putting in the time? Or are you on holiday and could not be bothered? They are just two questions. Simple questions. Simply baffling questions. Go figure.

“The most important questions in life can never be answered by anyone except oneself.” ~ John Fowles

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