21 questions

IMG_5296In the National Trust’s list of 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾, is the exciting invitation to ‘dam a stream’. I know it’s one of the activities that I most look forward to when we spend time near the beach in Swanage, Dorset. Seriously. It wins over more relaxing activities and even over fish and chips.

I’m not sure what is so compelling about it. There is this little freshwater stream that crosses the sand into the sea and it is so much fun to try to direct it into a channel you have dug yourself or to stop it going in the direction that it wants to go in. But of course, try as we might, the water always wins.  All of our hard work eventually erodes away and if you come back in the morning, it will be almost exactly the way it was the day before.

I may be wrong, but I think it touches something deep inside about wonder, and paying attention. Our world is a mysterious place but we seldom stop to notice.

I was going to write more about this and about my belief that God is at work in our world, but maybe not in the ways that we expect or sometimes even want. But then yesterday our nearly-10 year old son produced as list of 21 questions he’d written and that we wants us to talk about. I have to confess that I don’t even understand all of the questions, let alone know all of the answers, but I love that he’s asking them.

Like dam-making and cloud-watching, these questions are another way into wonder. What would you say?

  1. What is life?
  2. What are we doing on this earth?
  3. What would God like us to do on this earth?
  4. If God never existed what would we like to do?
  5. What is our final destination?
  6. What is in our soul?
  7. What helps us live?
  8. What does the Pope mean by ‘Wake up’?
  9. Are we asleep? Unaware of the greatness around us?
  10. What would help us see the greatness around us?
  11. What does ‘slain’ truly mean?
  12. Do we praise God properly? VGA (various great ascensions)
  13. Where do we walk?
  14. What do we have to do to become angels?
  15. Do we have any answers?
  16. Why would Christ come again?
  17. What does Jesus mean by saying ‘all you that are carrying heavy bones come, and you will receive rest?
  18. Is Jesus’ blood everlasting?
  19. What evil comes our way?
  20. Why do people say ‘nothing bad can happen to me because I’m united with Christ’? That’s not true.
  21. Where is home?

10 comments on “21 questions

  1. Helen Wells says:

    Wow. That’s a long one. I’ll read it when I’m awake.! I know it will be insightful and thought provoking x

  2. aporior says:

    I’m up for answering these questions! I may have a go this afternoon. 🙂

  3. Helen Wells says:

    Hi Karen, replied yesterday but my comments seem to have disappeared. They were good comments with a sense of humour. Weird

  4. Helen Wells says:

    Edmund’s questions are my questions…

  5. Chris Dove says:

    dear Karen, what a bright and deep thinking youngster you have! I guess it may take a while to answer all these questions.We appreciate receiving your lovely prayer stair and feel guilty that we haven’t responded.We have been having quite a difficult time with illness etc.We would love to see you again and meet the rest of your family.with love from us both,Anthea

    Sent from my iPad


  6. Judith Lampard says:

    Dear Karen I found the questions on your Prayer Stair – were they Edmund’s? what a thoughtful and sensitive lad he is. I hope the discernment process you and Philip have undertaken regarding the next stage of your ministry is proving beneficial. you are in my prayers Hope the new term is going well for the boys Blessings Judith

Leave a Reply to Chris Dove Cancel reply


WordPress.com Logo


Google photo


Twitter picture


Facebook photo


Connecting to %s