The Simple Question

simplicity // 15
the Simple Question

Rainer Maria Rilke once advised a younger fellow poet to “live the questions of the soul”. No one else, he suggested, was better placed to answer his questions, and so he would have to wait, before he could answer them for himself.

He wrote, “I want to beg you, as much as I can, dear sir, to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart, and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

Questions can give us direction in life; they set our course. So we should take careful note of those which arise from within us, and hold them gently, and carefully, and not rush to make an answer fit. If Rilke is right, the answer will emerge, in good time - not necessarily like an e-mail to the brain, but as a consequence of the way we’ve lived when we didn’t have the answers...


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action point:

If you were to identify one, simple question today – to hold gently, carefully, and to “live” - then what would it be?

You might, alternatively, ask yourself which question ‘resonates’ with you from the Bible... or from a great work of literature, or art... Otherwise, think of a question you have been asked recently which really hit home. Please share any of the above with us.


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rsvp:

“The thought of finding deep pools to replenish has been helpful. In God we find all the resources that we will ever need. At a time when we are encouraged to do more with less and are running on empty we may not notice or find the time for our God.” Ian

“I cannot go to my well spring today. But if I close my eyes and surround myself with that space that we've learned to create, I am there. In the mountains, where I can marvel at God’s genius and beauty, I feel so small and insignificant, yet loved - cretaed with care and beauty, and destined to achieve greatness if I choose to listen... That place gives me the right positioning. Thanks for reminding me.” Emmanuelle

“My well-spring is a comfy chair in my living room in the quietness of the early morning before the rest of the house hold is stirring. There, I connect with God the Father in glorious intimacy as I talk and listen. This centering event in my day often also gives me marching orders for actions which should be taken or points to bring out in conversations with others, later. It doesn't get better for me than this.” Paul

“I am hugely grateful for this Lent series. In summary of where I find myself: Trying to put the series so far together in to some sort of arrangement in my mind. Trying to be patient. Trying to take time; both for God and the family. Trying to sit quietly and wait for God Then there's the speed and beauty of the Kingfisher and all of God’s amazing creation. All the time trying to appreciate where I/we are at... But like many people trying to follow Christ we/I have to persevere at all of these things, because it's not easy... For a sad old bloke - the challenges never cease...” David

“Wow - this is such a wonderful journey we all have when we open our eyes. My lovely sister lost her life to cancer at 42 and being with her at her last breath was a celebration... and this has just dawned on me! Chalice wells is a special place to me where the waters run deep and healing begins when you see the flowers growing. My screen saver is of sunflower taken in Belgium on a WW1 battlefield.” Cheryl


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May you live the question, today.
Go well!

Brian