I’ve been working on writing this post for four days now. It started from an insight I had on Saturday. I was ready to publish it on Monday morning, but it couldn’t pass my editor. So I began a process of cutting and adding, editing and rewriting, all of which never seemed to get me anywhere. So I begin fresh today. I am narrowing the subject considerably, even as I am broadening its reach.
Patrick asked his friend, Ari, “Why do Jews always answer each question with another question?” And Ari answered, “Why not?”
Our conversations and our thoughts are full of Why? questions. We have an intense curiosity to understand the causes of things and a strong desire to know the motivations of others.
In one specific, though not uncommon, instance we ask Why? in order to understand what motivates another person. Often our motivation for asking this question is not simply curiosity. It can become especially helpful to know what motivates someone else if we are trying to sell something, from cookies to condos, from concepts to consulting services. And yes, even when I am trying to sell this blog to you.
I caught myself doing that this morning when I came up for a new three-part outline for this post:
- What problem do my readers have that I am trying to address?
- Why is this a problem for them?
- How can they solve this problem?
When I wrote that in my notebook I thought to myself: “That will work. This is a time tested outline.” I was feeling good and put down my pen and got up to get some coffee. When I picked up my notebook again and looked at that outline I realized that I was thinking like a salesman. I was seeking to imagine your motivations in order to sell this blog to you.
I don’t want to think like a salesman. But who do I want to think like? And out of the blue I heard a silent voice say, “Like an angel.” An angel? What might that mean? How do angels think?
Having a background in Greek and Hebrew, I know that angels are messengers. They can be human or divine. They show up unannounced, sometimes with the recipients of their messages remaining unaware of their presence. They are simply concerned with how their message is received and not with how they are personally received. Angels have something to give but nothing to sell. It is important for them to understand the people who receive their message in order to present that message in ways that will get through. Their concern is that the warning is heeded, the guidance is followed, the blessing is received.
Angels don’t ask Why? Unlike a salesman, they don’t need to know the motivations of the people they engage with in order to sell them something. They have no need to impress anyone, no need to be liked by anyone. Their sole concern is what is best for whoever receives their messages.
So how do you think like an angel? Jesus gives us a great example in the Sermon on the Mount: “Whatever you want others to do for you, do that for them.” This is a simple, and profound and difficult and life-changing, way to think. (See earlier post, “A place to begin”). When I ask myself what I want others to do for me and then do that, then I can sidestep some of those Why? questions and get on with life. Give it a try. Think like an angel.
