Don’t be afraid to ask “why,” seek guidance
posted by Josiah Garber on May 31, 2010
in Church, Friends
By Meagan Kanagy
The Daily Collegian Online
Why? It’s a question we’re all familiar with. One that we’ve heard children ask over and over again, one that invokes a tired response from a parent. It’s a question that can dignify an answer as simple as, “Because I said so,” or one as complicated as “I don’t know.” This is a question that is prominent in a research university. We want to know the “why” behind everything.
I wonder how many of us have questioned the reason behind our existence at some point in our lives and how many of us haven’t really thought about it. I think it’s fascinating how our bodies work, how the earth turns, how we need relationships, how we have emotions and feelings … but don’t you ever wonder why? What’s the point?
Why does the universe exist? Why do we live in this world? Why does it matter that we are an intelligent species, that we have a currency system, that we speak different languages? Why do we have brains? If you believe in the Big Bang Theory, where did that tiny speck of energy come from, and why was it there?
Is the only reason we live that we come into this world to be educated, get jobs, make money, get married, have families and die? Why do we have hope? Why do we trust?
Why do we find comfort in the fact that tomorrow is a new day and that we can hope in the future? Why do we have the capacity to question, “Why?”
Sorry if you were expecting to read something a little less intense today.
If I didn’t think bringing this up was important, I wouldn’t have wasted my time writing this column. But here I am.