E-couragement: A Profound Question

Powerful Questions“Ask skillful questions. Your greatest fear should be not knowing.” Rich Schlentz A powerfully designed question is like architecture or poetry—it causes me to pause and marvel over its form and function. A well-crafted question results in reflection, insight, understanding, meaningful action, and can lead toward transformation.

Engaging leaders do the work necessary to become skillful questioners. They have the courage to stop knowing and start asking.  I’ve always been moved by one particular question asked by an ancient leader. 

In the Bible, (John 5:6) Jesus encounters a man lying by a pool in Bethesda. The man has been sick for 38 years. Jesus looks at him and asks, “Do you want to be healed?” Huh? After reading that, I’ve often thought, come on Jesus, you can do better than that!

Now I get it. As an engaging leader, Jesus understood that before something can be accomplished, you must want it for yourself. It doesn’t matter how much someone else may want it for you. Any meaningful achievement starts with a deep and burning desire of your own. With that fundamental principle in mind, perhaps you might consider a few simple and powerful questions:

  • Do you want to change?
  • Do you want to improve?
  • Do you want to be a leader?
  • Do you want to experience deep love?
  • Do you want to live with meaning and purpose?

Consider your answer before flippantly responding “yes.” No is the safe answer. Yes will cost you. Yes results in hard work, pain, tears, uncertainty, doubt, and coming face-to-face with your fears. Yes also means waking your soul, experiencing joy, walking with courage, becoming the person you’re intended to be. Well? Do you want to…

Leave your comments: What profound question do you need to ask yourself?

E-couragementRich Schlentz2 Comments