"Why?"
And the world steps into the moment.
And in an eternity I cannot say. In an eternity of answers and questions and fidelity I cannot say.
And I stop. And I laugh; and it is finished.
Life simply resumes.
My faith in the lord has always been a rock upon which I base my life. I have never wavered in my faith, and yet I could not fulfill my obligation in ministry. Even when I was presented with blatant opportunity—when I was asked WHY I choose to believe in Christ—I could not answer. Despite my steadfast loyalty and countless reasons why, I could not verbalize a response. This in not the only time in my life in which I have been stopped. I have failed to do something as simple as my homework as well as something as clear as defending my brother. Something stops me from making the healthy choice—the obvious choice. Ultimately, this has lead me to ponder: What is it that prevents us from doing what we know we ought to do or perhaps even what we know we cannot do; what stops us? Could it be fear, morality, or something in between?
In Annie Proloux's novel The Shipping News, her primary character Quoyle is stopped on multiple occasions. Perhaps his original challenge is leaving his wife Petal. She is abusive and cruel to both him and their young daughters. However, Quoyle cannot quit her. He constantly attempts to regain her affections. Finally, she is killed in a car accident, leaving him in her final act of infidelity. Something stopped Quoyle from leaving her, confronting her, or gaurding himself against her hurtful actions.
Yet again Quoyle stops himself in a situation of romance. When picking berries in a field with his romantic interest—and the town widow—he most nearly kisses her. However, something stops him yet again. Perhaps it was his moral integrity, or the ghost of her previous love. Whatever the reason Quoyle yet again halted in doing what he felt correct.
Ultimately Quoyle's biggest challenge is allowing himself happiness. And he is stopped, and stopped, and stopped by nothing other than his own mentality. What is it that halted Quoyle?
Today we are stopped more than ever. As a society, as a nation something gives us pause in completing our quests for those things which we desire most. As a nation legislation is proposed at a rate which is extraordinary. However, that which is passed is quite a small portion. Why is this? Something is keeping us from reform. As a society so much moral degradation has occurred. Yet the average individual, does not kill, does not steal, and what is it that prevents this? Perhaps it is our laws, or it may be a moral integrity which we all hold somewhere within us. And yet something also gives us pause when we might stand up for the individual on the street. Perhaps it is fear, or perhaps it is something different. Regardless; something stops us.
What stops us?
