Niki Anderson ~ Author & Speaker

A carelessly worded question can pack a powerful punch. As in, "You're not wearing that, are you?"

Or maybe this one. "Is that what we're having for dinner?" 

Questions laden with negative insinuations stab the heart.

For me, the topic of questions launched the month of May. I taught an interview class at a writers conference in western Washington.

To gather information for the stories in my books, I've questioned about 200 intriguing people whom I interviewed for at least an hour each. (Incidentally, I asked none about what they were wearing, or what they planned for dinner!)

To get an inner-view of a person, authors clock numerous hours fielding the five W's. Who, what, why, when, and where. It's the quickest way, as detective Joe Friday said, to get "Just the facts, Ma'm."

But the best questions do more than solicit data from the one answering an interviewer's list of queries. Well-crafted questions prompt answers that unveil emotions, opinions, virtues and frailties. They elicit replies that brighten a saddened heart, lead to a personal discovery, or surface forgotten details. Occasionally, a sensitively posed question may even free long withheld tears.

To introduce my conference session, I shared a few questions directed by someone famous for his exchanges. Jesus questioned countless people.

Remember these?

Why are you still so afraid?

What can a man give in exchange for his soul?

How many loaves do you have?

Who do you say that I am?

What do you want me to do for you?

Could you not watch with me one hour?

Everyone interviewed by Jesus left challenged, consoled, coaxed, calmed, chastened, or in some way, dramatically changed.

Most interviews include a sensitive, critical, or difficult inquiry called the leading question. The interviewer is most curious about the answer he awaits from this special question. And so it is with God.

Though I don't always like God's leading questions, I've discovered that honest answers bring changes to my heart that I welcome.

In every sermon preached, in every book I read, in the faces of people I meet, I hear leading questions, and I wonder. Is God pleased with my answers?

"Lord, interview me. I may weep, wiggle, or wince at your questions, but keep asking until I allow you to change all that displeases us both."

Check out my new web content for May on these pages:

3-Minute Commentary - "Meet Clawdia" & scroll down

About Cats - "Niki's Fish & Chips CATS-serole" and info about raw fish for cats

Win a book by posting a caption about Myles below my blog. He is pictured with me on the Home Page.

NEXT MONTH: Watch for Announcement of the Autograph Party celebrating my new book, Whiskers, Wit, and Wisdom: True Cat Tales and the Lessons They Teach. Releases on July 7th!