Asking the Right Question

I returned yesterday from a trip to Alabama, where I was reminded of the Booker T. Washington biography I read recently. That famous black American came out of slavery to found Alabama’s famous Tuskegee Institute for the purpose of educating blacks and preparing them for a life of vital contribution to society.

Booker T. used to state his philosophy through a simple illustration:

“A ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted a friendly vessel. From the mast of the unfortunate vessel was seen a signal: “Water, water. We die of thirst.” The answer from the friendly vessel at once came back: “Cast down your bucket where you are.” A second time, the signal, “Water, send us water!” went up from the distressed vessel. And was answered: “Cast down your bucket where you are.” A third and fourth signal for water was answered: “Cast down your bucket where you are.” The captain of the distressed vessel, at last heeding the injunction, cast down his bucket and it came up full of fresh, sparkling water from the mouth of the Amazon River.”

Some years later, George Washington Carver, a teacher at Tuskegee Institute would “let down his bucket” as the Southern cotton crop lay ravaged by the boll weevil. He knew about the peanut and its suitability for Southern soil, but how could it be made a useful crop?

Paul Thigpen, in No Royal Road for Wisdom, records that:
"God's Little Workshop" was the name of George Washington Carver's busy lab, where the famous scientist pursued his quest for learning. According to his own account, it was there that he asked in prayer to discover the uses of what was then a lowly, unesteemed crop: the peanut.
Dear Mr. Creator," the humble man began, "please tell me what the universe was made for?"
"Ask for something more in keeping with that little mind of yours," God answered. So Mr. Carver tried again.
"Dear Mr. Creator, what was man made for?"
Again the Lord replied, "Little man, you ask too much. Cut down the extent of your request and improve the intent." So the scientist tried once more.
"Then Mr. Creator, will you tell me why the peanut was made?"
"That's better," the Lord said, and beginning that day Carver discovered over three hundred uses for the lowly peanut.

It’s easy, isn’t it, to believe, like those men dying of thirst, that we need to import a miracle or be transported to better accommodations - when maybe all we need is the conversation with God that Carver had. Once God gets us asking the right question, I think the answers will open up an abundance around us that is both astonishing and life-giving.

Let’s start asking!