“I want to see the wind!” Evidently, as a young child staying overnight at the Barrom’s home, I made this statement after being frightened by the noise that I could not see. At least that is Dewayne’s recollection of the night, and I have no way to refute the story. But as an adult, I have no problem visualizing that annoying little girl asking Why questions that are difficult for others to answer. Why is there a noise outside? Why can’t I see it? Because the reality is, I am still that little girl asking the why questions when she is fearful and afraid of the unknown. Even as a little girl, knowledge and understanding was a soothing balm to the uncertainties of this world. So, I’m truly not surprised if others have memories related to the frustration of trying to explain why to me; however, now these questions are being asked more often of God in efforts to understand what it means to be human in this world. And, by the way, I still want to see the wind!

In this current season of life, the why questions now relate to more practical matters such as “Why did appliance manufacturers remove the door-mounted silverware tray?” Seriously, just why? Am I the only person who prefers to slightly open the door to add a spoon or fork without pulling out a basket, when that’s all that was dirtied? Sliding a tray or basket out takes more time and effort than it’s worth. I need the quick drop and go. I don’t have time to fully open the door and slide out a tray! However, my curiosity did lead me to conduct an Artificial Intelligence conversation about the matter, and AI was actually quite empathetic in its response: “Do you miss the door-mounted tray, or have you found the newer designs more convenient?” No, I’m not a fan. To which I received the answer: “I understand that! The door-mounted tray was quite convenient for some people. It kept the silverware separate and made it easy to load and unload. While the newer designs aim to improve space and cleaning efficiency, it’s natural to miss features that worked well for you.”

So, to answer life’s appliance feature dilemmas, among other things, I offer a suggestion for a new documentary series entitled Doctor Why. If we have a Doctor Who, why not a Doctor Why? After all, isn’t the purpose of most documentaries to answer the who, what, when, where, and why questions? Although I honestly find many documentaries intriguing, I do find them a bit less informative when attempting to answer the Bigger Questions of life. For matters of the heart, I find Scripture is best at providing Timeless Wisdom, and without fail, King Solomon might be crowned the best Wrestling Coach I know. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon walks us through his own personal struggles with attempting to answer some of life’s challenging why questions.

Unlike others who question why God would include such a depressing book in the Bible, I find comfort and reassurance in Ecclesiastes because Solomon was extremely honest. I find the transparency refreshing that engaging in a life with God does not guarantee a trouble-free life. Pastor and author Tommy Nelson shares the importance of Solomon’s wisdom in the book The Problem of Life With God, “Throughout human history, men and women have struggled with the same basic questions. If God made us, it makes sense that He would not leave us in the dark about things that are so important to us…In Ecclesiastes, Solomon not only dealt with the problem of evil but also with other tough questions in life. These questions have puzzled philosophers and logicians for thousands of years and have probably been troubling you as well. These questions go to the very core of who we are.”

Nelson goes on to share, “The world’s view of wisdom is personified in Rodin’s ‘The Thinker.’ Biblical wisdom is personified in Solomon, ‘the Preacher.’ He’s not like so many modern philosophers who pontificate about what might be true; instead, he tells us the facts of life. And these facts instruct us how to live even when faced with continuous disappointment.”

Finding many educated and wise people to offer advice on the show Doctor Why should not be a problem; however, I believe the best place to start is with the intelligence from Scripture. In those pages, we benefit from the God-inspired wisdom granted to Solomon, and he then passes that knowledge on to us.

Reference:

Nelson, T. (2002). The problem of life with God: Living with a perfect God in an imperfect world. Broadman & Holman Publishers. (own) (January 2025)