New Year Questions Too Good to Answer: Touching Base
There are some questions that are too good to get a straight answer. They’re better left to chug around the subconscious, for us to jump onto and ride when we’re ready. Here are mine:
1. Am I a thermometer or a thermostat?
The thermometer has no freedom: whatever temperature it is outside, the thermometer just follows along. When you lose control of your own spirit, this is what you become. Everything is a reaction - to a comment, an advert, a deadline, an appetite, a temptation.
The thermostat sets the temperature, it has a measurable effect on the environment around it.
You don’t become one or the other overnight. “Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.” –C. S. Lewis
2. Is it Hurting Yet?
A study published earlier this week ‘revealed’ that people who expected a certain degree of misery from married life were better equipped to have succesful marriages than folk who imagined everything would be rosy.
Anyone who expects to be gushingly in love with their life partner all the time is sadly deluded, and all love leads to suffering: when you love you care more, sacrifice more, grieve more.
3. If in 12 months you’re the same person you are today, in the same situation, in what way would you be disappointed?
4. Why did England let Troy Cooley leave as bowling coach?
5. How come an intelligent man like Alex Ferguson didn’t realise that on New Years Day a crowd of Mancunians would be so hung over that they’d rather watch a match without jumping up and down and shouting ?
6. Rank the following in order of preference: money, power, influence, status, integrity, popularity, Real Ale
7. Who are you when no-one is looking?
8. If there was one secret you could keep to your grave, what would it be?
Bear in mind that afterwards, you’ll discover that God’s known all along, though whether He’ll display it in widescreen to everyone who’s ever known you - well, that’s to find out isn’t it?
9. Why do lists like this always have to have 10 points?
David Keen blogs at St Alban to Abbey Manor.
[tags]david keen, touching base, new year questions, new year resolutions[/tags]
Categories: Columns, Touching Base
Strangely enough the talk in church yesterday was on Fresh Hope, and the young man giving it talked about hope, expectation, cynicism and faith. I suppose it’s not ’strangely enough’ really as it’s a new year and that always means we talk about new hopes! But in relation to question 3 I thought of it. He mentioned a quote from someone whose name escapes me along the lines of ‘what if you’re already achieved your full potential?’ That made me laugh: I thought, ‘Oh, crumbs, I hope not!!’
But my husband believes he has fulfilled his and is content with where he is with that.