We recently took a once-in-a-lifetime family vacation to Hawaii. Sadly the adopted boys had to work, but the original six Bushlacks enjoyed over a week together on The Garden Isle of Kauai. I’m not gonna lie, it was paradise.
Our time included plenty of adventures. Snorkeling, rainforest hikes to see waterfalls, cliff jumping, boogie boarding, and even a helicopter tour of the island. But the very best time of all was spent at our VRBO, sitting in a hot tub under the palm trees and the stars.
One night after dinner, Jeremy began a game of “Good Questions.” (I literally just named it that this second). When I say we played a game, I mean Jeremy did what he does: He set some rules and the entire family agreed to play along. Here’s how you play: One person starts by asking a question to any other person in the circle. That person answers and then in turn can ask a question of anyone else in the circle. When I describe it like that, it basically sounds like a grown-up version of Truth or Dare, except without the dare.
Anyway, it was during this conversation that I heard some of the most astonishingly thoughtful questions ever:
- To Marissa (a high school charter school teacher in Brooklyn, NY): Who is your favorite student and why?
- To Noah (Emily’s boyfriend): How do people misunderstand you?
- (At this point Jake announced, “This one needs to be an all-play.” We learned so much about each other!
- To me and Jeremy: What is it like to go from empty nest to a reunion like this?
- To Emily: Go around the circle and answer: What’s your favorite thing about each person?
- This question became another “all-play” with everyone having the opportunity to “pile on” more good things about each person in turn.
Y’all, we talked for over 4 hours that night. I will never, ever forget the joy of hearing my grown children sharing joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, doubts and victories with each other. And hearing each person thoughtfully build one another up with sincere words of affirmation.
I guess the point of the game is this: there’s always more we can learn and appreciate about one another. And a great way to accomplish that is simply by asking a thoughtful question.
This Sunday, at New Covenant Bible Church, we begin a series that may likely stir up some questions of your own. The series is on the Holy Spirit. I don’t care how long you’ve been walking with God, I bet you have some good questions about His Spirit. Me too.
I hope you will take time these next few weeks to ponder those questions and ask those questions. Ask your small group. Ask a pastor. And of course, ask the Spirit Himself to help you understand. He wants to reveal Himself to you. Do you believe that?
There’s always more we can learn and appreciate about our awesome God. And a great way to accomplish that is simply by asking a thoughtful question.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).
