This article was sent by our Conference Minister, Alan Miller. I thought it asked a couple of good and thought provoking questions and want to share it with you here.
A Rabbi was traveling at night to a meeting. Driving on country roads in an area unfamiliar to him, he made a wrong turn onto the access road to a military base. As he approached the guard house an armed sentry called out: “Who are you? What are you doing here?” The Rabbi yelled back: “Excuse me?” Again the guard yelled: “Who are you? What are you doing here?” This time the Rabbi asked; “Soldier, how much are you paid for stopping people and asking them these questions?” The soldier thought for a minute, did the calculations in his head, and told the Rabbi the amount of his weekly pay. To which the Rabbi said; “I will pay you even more if you will ask me those questions at the beginning of each new day!”
Who are you? What are you doing here? Most of us spend more of our day talking than listening. As a matter of fact, most of us are so good at talking that we give “the answers” to others before they even ask the questions. We give answers to others even if they don’t have questions. It’s like we are all playing Jeopardy, we know all the answers, now we just have to figure out the questions.
How would your day… maybe even your life… change if you began each day asking God the Rabbi’s questions: Who am I? and Why am I here? and then sitting in silence listening to God?
And now from me – during this Easter time, a time of new life, a little reflection on these two questions would be in order. Why do you do what you do? Is it because it’s what the world says is the right thing or is it because you have asked God and then listened for answers? I am available for Spiritual Direction – a time of reflection and prayer and asking questions – for anyone who would like to call me.
Read these words from a familiar hymn
“Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord to thee.
Take my moments and my days – let them flow in ceaseless praise.”
They hymn goes on to say, take my hands, take my voice, take my silver and gold, and take my will. We must dedicate time each day to sit and have conversation with God. God will take these things and use them but first we must be willing to ask Who am I? and Why am I here? And after you have the answers – act on them!
Have a Blessed Easter!
