Agendas

What should you do when the question isn’t really the question?  The scene is repeated far more than anyone realizes.  Corporate politics slip into a conversation and the conversation shifts without one of the parties releasing the subtle nuances.  Reports twist the meaning of words to fit within their agendas while politicians answer the question not asked.  Everyone is moving in and around the simple meaning of the words hung out in the air, but the question still remains.  What do you do?
 
Life unfolds in unique ways.  The challenges of maintaining self esteem, position, and power often brings new dimensions into the questions put across a relationship.  It is as if the simple meaning of the questions is never quite that.  One is never sure.  It is difficult to discern with confidence.  Motives, intent, and purpose are whispering entities buried between the lines.
 
Yet the question sits, patiently waiting.
 
A blind man was asked, “What did he do to you?  How did he open your eyes?”  (John 9.26)
 
There was no answer he could give to satisfy the agendas of those questioning.  Yet he didn’t shy away from stating the facts and living with the outcome that would surely follow.  This is a model that I believe we can and should follow.  We can assume that unexpected things will happen with our answers.  We should anticipate evil will twist even the most innocent answers.  We can have our fears and keep our guard.  Yet all of this doesn’t prevent, should not drive, and cannot hide compassionate spoken truth from birth.
 
The world around us is crying out for truth!  People are desperate for hope.  There is a pregnant longing for mercy and love.  Regardless, in spite of, and maybe even because of the self centered agendas that are more the norm than the exception, we need the truth.  Even if we don’t understand the words we know hope when we see it.  Even if we find ourselves confused, compassion wraps us in warmth and assurance.  Even if we are hurt, love heals. 
 
Questions are opportunities.