Do your days fill up with demands on your time so that you are in constant motion to run errands and take care of items on your list? What sort of things do you have on your list? Are they things of enduring significance or do they seem mundane? Do the urgent things that demand your attention crowd out the important things that will matter for the long term? If you were to find an unexpected opportunity for divine encounter, or to minister to one of the least of these, which you know is the same thing, would you have the time available to respond, or would you be too busy?

Have you ever heard of a narrative account dismissed because it is ‘just a story’? This statement reflects an incorrect understanding of stories. People live and die by their stories. Does this statement imply that ‘just a story’ means it is not true? What does truth mean in this context? That it is an accurate description of actual historical events, or that it describes enduring principles of human conduct whether it refers to a specific instance or not? If you have a bias for facts, remember that I taught eternal truth in parables.

Have you ever inherited a large amount of money? This is an experience that anyone would welcome. What about your faith? Did you inherit that? If you were born into and raised in a faith tradition, and embraced it and still practice it on your own, then is it fair to say that you inherited it? Is this easier to see in those of other faiths? Would you have ended up in the same place without the childhood influence? You can be grateful to those who have led you on the path of life. Yet the questions concerning inherited faith still remain? What can you do to make your faith your own? 

Are you objective? This is considered an admirable goal in a rational world. The implication is that if you are influenced by emotion or affection then you can’t think clearly. But the term clearly implies that it is desirable to view everything in the situation (including people) as objects. It also implies that it is best to remain detached and uninvolved. Is this the true perspective from which accurate judgments can be made? It is a small step from being disinterested to being uninterested. Don’t you find that you are better able to assess reality when you are involved and caring?