29th
Question 2
Across from me sat a rather quiet man who spoke softly but had searching eyes - almost piercing looks. A university professor, the chief operating officer of a leading company, me, and this quiet guy were sitting at a table talking. The quiet guy was not too talkative, obviously. Not much was said that would give hints about him in much of a personal way.
So I asked him Question #1: What do you do?
He looked suddenly engaged, his eyes opened wider. And he spoke just these words:
“I plan new towns.”
I quickly grasped that he didn’t say, “I plan new developments or new residential districts or new subdivisions.” Listening closely and carefully is important - so that as clearly as possible you HEAR what they say they do.
New towns! When does one ever run into someone who plans new towns? Like, how many new towns are being built in America? This seemed instantly rarified.
So, drawing in a breath, I proceeded to Question #2.
(Now wait just a moment. I ask this question to anyone no matter their culture, their language, their religion or no religion, spirituality or no obvious spirituality.)
Here is Question #2: “How do you do that to the glory of God?”
An intelligent quiet man stunned is an interesting picture to see - I still see his perplexed expression in my memory.
Then he smiled with a low chuckle. Only a man with no guile could smile and say what he said to me, a stranger. “I don’t know.” But he recovered quickly and now the pace picked up. The professor and executive leaned in to the table as the man asked me, “Do you know?”
Now the adventure was about to begin!
In my experience over the last decade of asking Question #1 then #2, less than five percent attempt to give an answer. Most say, “I really don’t know.”
Religious Americans are virtually godless in understanding their own life’s work.
If you don’t care about people and the value of their lives as expressed in what they do most of the day - then don’t ask these two questions - talk about the Super Bowl or global cooling or something less passionate.
But if you do ask them, be prepared to enter a new world of discovery (of fireworks or diamonds) that can progress along quickly once you learn how to trek along such paths of the unknown.
At first, the mind is slow when you ask that Question #2. A scrambled brain, a mind awakening from slumber, a look of befuddlement or skepticism describe the common reactions at first flush.
Try these two questions for a few days. Come back in a few days to learn how the story of the town planner and me became an exciting adventure that few have ever been on. And learn what happens next in such adventures.
