“If one has the answers to all the questions - that is the proof that God is not with him.”
– Pope Francis
This season is always full of travel and presentations for me. Recently, I was recounting to my bride a talk I gave and how many great questions there were from the participants. I may have also drifted into some boasting about how wonderful the answers were from the man with the microphone. Somewhere during my monologue, Tricia stopped me and asked, “Do you ever let anyone else answer a question?” I tried in the humblest terms possible to explain the depths of my expert wisdom to my wife, and furthermore, that people far and wide invite me, Dan Cellucci, to articulate this wisdom. While I was responding in a sarcastic and self-deprecating tone, I knew I believed more of my words than I was letting on. Tricia knew it too. “Yeah, blah, blah, blah,” she said. “Back to my question. Do you ever let anyone else answer? Do you believe anyone else could have the answer?”
A temptation for extroverts is to dominate any room they enter. Give them a microphone, put them on a stage, and watch out! As I thought about Tricia’s challenge, I couldn’t help thinking about smaller rooms - whether it be meetings at work or gatherings of friends or family - and how quickly people look to me, not because I have the answer, but because I answer. Regardless of how big the room is, how great is my effort to draw out the wisdom of those around me before imparting my own? Do I believe that someone else might have a better answer? Can I appreciate that, even if I have the right answer, it might be more impactful coming from someone else?
Later that same week in another big room, I found myself struggling to help someone understand my wisdom. An older priest stood up and shared a story from his own experience that captured the concept perfectly. While none of us can hold the entirety of the answers we need in life, we can embrace the humility to know that the Lord holds the Truth. And if we are willing to ask, and willing to do the work of searching for the gifts He gives us – His Word and His Church – we can find not only the answers to our questions, but more importantly, a peace the world cannot give.
Prayers for all your questions this week and how God may work through you to be an answer to someone else.
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