I spelled that wrong, but hopefully you’ll get the drift and give me a break as I wind down my alphabet gratitude challenge. It’s been fun but even my never-ending prose runs dry after a while.
Why is not a spiritual question. I hate that little slogan because it means that asking Why? is a waste of time. Like so many other nefarious habits, I love asking Why? Why is this happening to me? I don’t deserve this. Why didn’t that go my way? It’s not fair. Why can’t I ever get what I want?
Why? Why? Why? Me. Me. Me.
I agree. That doesn’t sound very spiritual to me, either.
The statement that Why is Not a Spiritual Question presupposes that I’m a spiritual being plugged into a bigger force in the universe. It imagines that I trust that I will be taken care of, that there is a benevolent plan for my life, and that something bigger than me is in control. Faith demands that we relinquish control and accept life as it unfolds. We don’t have to like it but we do have to accept it.
Some days that’s tougher than others but it doesn’t get easier by resisting. God knows I’m living proof of that. Every ounce of energy I squander on resisting what is depletes me and diverts me from moving forward. Asking why something happened can’t undo the past. It can’t change the facts. It doesn’t fix what’s broken or mend what has been torn. There is not transformative power in hyper-analyzing what has happened.
The truth is Why not me? Why not struggle or disappointment or doubt in my life? It’s a part of life from which I’m not immune. And isn’t it interesting that I never pause to ponder why all the good things come my way. Why did I get that break? Why do I have good health or a great family? Why did I win that prize? I never seem to spend any time at all questioning why I’m the recipient of so many blessings. There is no explanation for the good fortune, adventure, friends and family that I’ve been given.
I take a moment today to acknowledge that there aren’t always answers to why good or bad things happen, at least not simple answers I can comprehend.
So in gratitude for today, I’ll resist asking why.
Boonedoggler 