The trick, in uncertain times, is not to let your decisions be ruled by questions that arise from fear. As Thomas Merton points out, "A huge network of anxious questions surrounds us and begins to guide many, if not most of our daily decisions. Fearful questions never lead to love-filled answers."

Fearful questions never lead to love-filled answers.

Think how many fear-filled questions were used in this recent election to sway our vote.

I can give examples of fearful questions from my own life: "What if I lose my job?" "What if I can't afford to pay my mortgage?" What if this spot on my skin is cancer again?" "What if my partner can't find a job?"

But I can replace all of those questions with very different "What ifs…":

• What if life led me in an entirely new direction, discovering new ways of serving in the world?
• What if I discovered I could live a simpler life with much less?
• What if I learned deeper compassion through my personal struggle with a particular health issue?
• What if my partner and I discovered life could be lived just as richly on one salary as two?
• What if I learned to trust that life (God, family, friends) would see me through the rough times I face?
• What if I were a much humbler, more aware human being?

Questions like these have much greater potential to lead to love-filled answers.

Text and image © 2010 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.