Motivational Questions

 For English Club this past week one of the students led.  They had picked out a Youtube reel featuring about 2 minutes from the on old talk (perhaps from the 80’s) given by a motivational speaker.  He was an excellent speaker— deep resonant voice, an intuitive sense of timing, a Dr. King-like rhythm and musicality.  

On the big boat to the big island

The 2 minute clip honed in on his big idea—3 questions we must ask ourselves:
Where have you been?
Why are you here?
Where are you going?

It just so happens that a few days later we left our island to come over to the big island to help a team that has finished its term to end well with what we call a time of “debrief.”. And though we spiritualize it and try to make it more thoughtful and prayerful, the truth is, if I were to sum up what we are doing with this time is to help the members of the team ask themselves the questions:

Where have you been?    Why are you here?    Where are you going?

It’s not rocket science.  Three simple questions but we turn to them time and again—or at least we should.  Truth be told, we are just as easily tempted to avoid them.  Taking a good hard look at any of them are fraught with peril.  Dealing with our past, our trauma, our sins.  Examining our present and the reality of what is happening right now.  Considering the future and what we might be setting ourselves up for—the consequences we may reap for our actions of today.  None of them are necessarily comfortable questions.  None of them are easy.  They are both simple and profound.  Answering them thoughtfully can lead to much wisdom.

As we discussed it as a club, the leader challenged the others saying that many islanders don’t ask themselves these questions.  Yet he had discovered them  and found them very helpful for his life.  It got me thinking—is it a cultural thing to think this way?  Is it a religious thing?  Is it a Western thing?  I’m not sure…and yet.

The team's 'memorial stones'

I won’t make claims about other faiths or cultures, but before one of our sessions today we read the story of Joshua and the people of Israel crossing the Jordan River.  They are told to bring out stones from the center of the river and to create a memorial.  Then they are told that when their descendants ask about the memorial they are to explain what happened and how they got to the point where they are now.  Future, Past, Present. 

Where have you been?     Why are you here?     Where are you going?

The more I think about it the more examples I could give of this past, present, thoughtful orientation we find in the Word.  I can also see how the imbalance of any of these areas could lead to an imbalanced life.  Perhaps we know this almost intuitively.  We say things like “Don’t dwell on the past.” or “You need to start thinking about your future.” or “You need to stop and smell the roses.”   I wonder about cultures that encourage an imbalanced way of thinking.  Are people in America too future oriented?  Are people in the islands only thinking about today?  Are some people groups stuck in the past—past grievances, past hurts, past victories, past empires?  The possibilities to challenge seem to go on and on, all stemming from those three simple questions:

Where have you been?     Why are you here?     Where are you going?

PRAYERS ANSWERED
The women’s and men’s gatherings went well. Some people were missing but the women made some steps towards better communication in the future and were able to make plans already for different group activities in December. We made it safely to the big island and the first day of debrief with the team from the small island has gone well. The place of the debrief is very beautiful and refreshing. Before we left Clove Island, we had one day of cooling rain (after so many days of relentless heat and humidity). We are so thankful that our older son’s drama performances went well and that we had people sending us clips and photos of them. 



PRAYERS REQUESTED
Please pray that this debrief for the small island team would finish well and that they could travel back to their home countries feeling a good sense of closure of their time together. Pray also for the two sessions that we will then do (after this debrief) with the big island team evaluating the health of their team. Pray that it would be a time of good and thoughtful reflection, discussion and understanding for that team. Pray for smooth travels back to Clove Island.