I Wonder?

From time to time is pays to pause and wonder about things. These are the moments in which we merely ask a question and don’t yet bother with an answer. Perhaps they are powerful ideas getting ready to surface? Or maybe they are enigmas to unravel? Or just maybe they represent the tantalizing mysteries that remain in life. Like the far corners of the earth? when a corner cannot be found in a spherical object?

Here are some things that escape answers for me:

1. Why do most people delay seeking help? When they finally do they find ready assistance, most at no cost. Why do they dilly dally in the beginning? 

2. Why is it difficult to say ‘I’m sorry’? Am I angry with myself for making a faux pas? 

3. What is the barrier to forgiveness? Is it because I remain resentful toward the other person or is it because I can’t forgive myself in the transaction? 

4. Why do people insist on comparing their checkbook problems/personal wealth issues, with that of the nation’s economy. The two issues are related but they don’t work they way most people think they do. 

5. Why are credit rules and loan granting synchronized with the laws? If a bankrupt person cannot go bankrupt for 10 years, why are loan requests denied when debt load, income adequacy and personal character are all superlative? 

6. Why do many people (a majority or near-majority?) over simplify current events and issues as ‘political’ when they most likely are not? 

7. Are most instances of personal discrimination actually an attempt for the discriminator to feel superior to salve his/her own ego? 

8. Is it fair or accurate to label a nation a democracy when less than half the eligible voters vote? Or when evidence indicates powerful interests have ‘bought’ voter support? 

9. How are yin and yang reconciled? Sexuality and sex? Love and marriage? Justice and fairness? Logic and politics? [the list goes on and on and on….] 

10.  Why are sibling love and caring so difficult to maintain over the years? 

11. Why are we suspicious of the word ‘free’ while ‘steal’ is a clear cut negative? 

12. Why are we suspicious of the helper or collaborator? Is it because we wouldn't agree to help someone without pay so why is he? 

13. And then, when someone does offer to help for an hourly fee, why do we hesitate? 

14. Why are negative political ads so powerful? They do gather voter support. 

15. Why are positive political ads not effective in gathering votes? 

16. Why do conservatives attack the Pope when he advocates love of all people who seek solace in the church?

   17.  Why do some cultures support long histories of tyrannical rule rather than democracy?

18. Why is religious faith a hard sell until a life threatening event occurs? 

19. Why does change threaten people as much as it does? 

20. Why don’t ‘new horizons’ and ideas excite wonder and support for change? 

These are just a few puzzles to ponder. Perhaps the biggest one of all is:

            If I could rule the world, how would I change it for the better?

Maybe all the other wonder statements come down to just that one?

November 18, 2014