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Friday, March 04, 2011

that *IS* the answer

(as I was saying)

AND ANOTHER THING . . .

Sometimes the answer is, "I don't know."

Maybe you have a deep-seated belief that to answer "I don't know" is unacceptable, that it perhaps shows a weakness or incompetence. I would argue the opposite and add that the ability to answer, "I don't know," shows a humility and self-awareness indicative of Still Searching and Willingness To Learn.

I don't have all the answers. Sometimes I don't even know what I think about a certain subject when it's been presented in a certain light, and so I require time to determine my answer. Sometimes I don't know what Official Church Policy is regarding said (or other) issue -- maybe simply because it's not something I've considered researching.

Answering, "I don't know," isn't so unusual. After Adam and Eve were cast out of The Garden of Eden, Adam offered sacrifice; after a few days an angel appeared and asked, "Why dost thou offer sacrifice unto the Lord?" Adam's response? "I know not, save the Lord commanded me."

I've felt that way about a lot of things in my life, many times when I've been asked why I'm doing what I'm doing (more often why I'm NOT doing something) my answer is: Because that's what I was asked to do. It's not blind/thoughtless following, it's faith and a desire to be obedient.

*****

And that, Friends, is what I felt I had to say this week about that.

Ahhhhh.

Welcome, weekend, welcome, March. The birdies sing in the morning and tease that Spring is around the corner. I like to believe those birdies.

10 comments:

Naomi said...

Yes!

dalene said...

Lovely post ~j. Thank you. I am also (still) learning that when it comes to God, sometimes 'I don't know' also means 'I trust' and 'I love.'

And those birdies make me happy in my heart.

Fig said...

Love this. I would also argue that it's okay to sometimes say "Belief is hard".

Vern said...

Lately I have been set free with the concept that faith is a choice. Why am I doing (or not doing) A, B, C and D? Because I choose to believe - I've seen the fruits of the work and I'm choosing to put my eggs in God's basket.

So to speak.

Emily said...

I use that phrase a lot. It's freeing in a way--and I like that.

Mrs. O said...

What a great perspective, and one I've not considered before. It seems one every teen should have access to when dealing with peer pressure. This will definitely come up in our family devotional.

Camille said...

yes - it's alleviating to realize it at times. Gets us through those trying times... you clearly have the right perspective!

ray-ray says said...

I know I agree with you 100% about not knowing everything there is to know about the gospel, but still have the faith to follow.

Amy said...

wow - could you have put that any more perfectly? I love it. I will need to remember that "I don't know" is a perfectly good answer. Especially when followed with "I have been asked - therefore I follow." In fact, it just might have to become Family Home Evening tonight.

Love it and thank you again for sharing.

Valerie said...

I love that you bring up Adam's response. I have thought of that before when I have done something on faith without fulling understand and other people can't understand why. (Found you on MMB)