The Answer

simplicity // 16
the Answer

Yesterday, we thought about “living the questions of the soul”. Here’s another, complementary way of looking at it.

Victor Frankl, the psychologist who survived Auschwitz and wrote the hugely influential book Man’s Search for Meaning as a result, made a radical discovery within the darkest days of his internment.

“We needed to stop asking ourselves about the meaning of life,” he records, “and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life - daily and hourly...”

In such light, I wonder: what will life ask of you, today, and how will you choose to be the answer?


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action point:

At 8.30pm tonight, across the world, millions of people will be turning their lights off. It’s a very special event called Earth Hour, a statement of solidarity and commitment to living simply and sustainably. This is what the website says:

“Last year, 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

“Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday 26 March at 8.30PM (local time). This Earth Hour we want you to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up.”

Indeed they do. So why not invite some people round, light some candles, turn off the lights, turn off the TV, and do something different: sing some songs, read your favourite poems, play a board game, tell your story, read an extract from a classic book, or take the opportunity to sit in silence and practice some contemplation together! You could call it a POWER-CUT PARTY, as we did in the Lent 40 two years ago. It’s a lovely, lovely way to spend the evening...

There are other ideas on the Earth Hour website. http://www.earthhour.org

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rsvp:

“’The Well-spring’ reminded me of my favourite R S Thomas poem, 'The Gift':

Some ask the world
and are diminished
in the receiving
of it. You gave me

only this small pool
that the more I drink
from, the more overflows
me with sourceless light.

And I'm currently turning over in my head the thought that if something’s a gift, then it's not a given...” Claire

(The Simple Question) “Why must we always self destruct?” George

“How long Lord, how long?” Pete

“My simple question, the question I am living now (not rushing and seeking), is: What's in the box?” Nick

“This resonates! Seeking paid employment, I realised after recently applying unsuccessfully for a position that seemed like a good ‘match’ with my background and experience, that my disappointment was not so much ‘I longed to be doing that work, and now cannot’ as ‘I have to wait still longer to know’. Or in other words ‘Hurry up, God.’ I’ll keep Rilke’s glorious advice. And thank you for bringing us Hopkins’ the Kingfisher, new to me and so very descriptive (in his inimitable way) of the essence of purpose/calling.” Julian

“The quotation from Rilke, which I have read and copied into my journal before, is a beautiful, timely reassurance to me. I have much fewer answers than I used to have. And when I try to live in the questions (what do you want me to do? am I here now because I lack courage or because this is where you have led me?), I find myself assailed by all the old answers I was once taught... I like answers and decisions and so for me it is a huge struggle to embrace living in the questions...but I think, I hope, it is a good and free place...” Jenny

“This one is easy: ‘What do you really want to do?’ – a question I have always found nearly impossible to answer, and therefore one I have had to live with despite the deep frustration of not being able to answer it.” Tim

(The Well-spring) “I stepped inside the top gate for just five minutes. As the atmospheric garden aroma encompassed me, the cares of the world dissolved and I welcomed the familiar embrace. Trees, pregnant with rising sap, beckoned me onwards; yellow-tipped buds of daffodils darted joyful beacons among the soft greening-grass and birds rehearsed their spring-song repertoire. Absorbing the vibrancy of life like the uncrumpling wings of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, my soul-strings stretched - redeemed, restored, revived.” Sandra

(The Child’s View) “I just want you to know that your life won't always be like this... Inside you there is a cute little person, like a song bird who needs to be let out sometimes to sing, lie in the sun, run in the soft grass with no shoes on, play with friends in the fields, jump in big puddles and get really dirty and most of all to cry when you hurt... Be kind and caring to others but most of all be kind to yourself because you are special and God loves you so much and wants the very best for you.” Heather

(The Sunflower) “My children planted a sunflower and we have a fantastic unplanned photograph of them looking up at it in wonder, one pointing to it and the other looking. We took it with a zoom feature from our own bedroom window so they didn't know. It was a moment that has stayed with me and I often think about it when I open my curtains to the same (now usually sunflower-less) view of the garden each morning. Perhaps we'll grow another this year, now!” Paula

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May you answer well, today.
Go well!

Brian