By Brenda Cannon Henley
I suppose I had dreamed that by the time I reached a certain age or place in life that I would not be fielding quite so many questions. That is not true. I answer questions all day long and into the evenings some of the time, and I find my own questions swim up to the surface and beg for answers during other hours and minutes. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had all of the answers, knew whatever we needed most to know and be completely prepared to answer the questions of our children, our mates, our employees, our neighbors, and our coworkers? I love a good challenge as much as anyone, but to be honest here, I simply do not have all of the answers, or perhaps I don’t have as many as I would like to think I do.

“Why can’t folks just get along?” “Why is there sickness and death and why do good people seem to suffer the very most?” “How can human beings do those kinds of things to each other, and especially to children and animals?” “What is this world coming to?” “How can we help others in a more positive and meaningful way?” “Do I have enough (and we all fill in the blank here)?” “Can I change?”

One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given came from a wise old sage I worked with for many years. She told me one day when I was dealing with a particularly bothersome problem that I should learn one hard fast rule. “Ask yourself if the solution to your problem agrees with the Bible or does it go against what the Word of God teaches?” Mrs. Opal Huckabee said that once we use that standard against our questions, we have cleared out much of the debris and many of the obstacles that keep us from making a good and sound decision. If we study the Scripture, we can determine if God has already said that a thing is good or bad. If we are wise, we will choose the way He outlines and bank our futures, and those of the people we love most, on the outcome.

What questions have you been asking recently? Have you determined your answers? Do you know where you are going and how you are going to get there? I’ve been reading for a couple of days about questions people ask themselves and others. Here are a few of my favorites. When Robert Altman, filmmaker was asked what he considered his greatest achievement in life, he answered, “I’ve made only the movies I wanted to make.”

And when Lucille Ball, of I Love Lucy fame, was asked what her idea of perfect happiness was, she answered assertively, “Waking up in the morning.” Harry Belafonte, entertainer and civil rights activist answered, “What is the trait you most deplore in others?” he said, “Blindly following.” When Jimmy Buffett, talented musician, was asked his greatest regret in life, he answered solemnly, “That I never taped or documented my grandfather’s stories of his years at sea.”

The one good thing about questions is that they often lead to answers, and then to action, and hopefully, achievement. Let’s ask ourselves some questions today. Are we happy? What would it take to make us happy? Where do we see ourselves in five years? Where in ten years? What could we do to change a negative situation for someone else? What are we giving back to our world? What will be our greatest influence on others?

When we think about the answers to these questions and others that will come to mind, we can form a plan of action leading to achievement.

(This article published 5/12/2015)

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788, at
[email protected], or by using the contact form below.

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