No-Answer Questions

We don’t know how the man lost the use of his limbs.

Was it sudden? At the prime of life? Did he dive off some cliff into miscalculated shallow waters and snapped his spinal cord? Or did  the decline creep up on him, slow and gradual?

Perhaps  he was born that way? A burden, a dead weight to his family and society from the moment of his birth? Society that ascribes the worth to a person not by the incalculable value of his soul but by his ability to produce, to self-promote and generate income making his breathing the air and occupying the few square feet of the planet’s space worthwhile, or at least tolerable?

Did he pray to God up in heaven and was dragged around from one doctor to another here on earth  - the licensed physical therapist as well as charlatans, grasping for straws in futile attempt to bring back the power to his useless appendages. Until hopeless and exhausted, they all finally give up.

Was his sin hidden and private, eliciting the passing crumbs of pity  for his tragic misfortune  or blatantly public, making him a warning, a spectacle and an example of just punishment to all brazen souls who dare step outside the lines?

 

Was he angry? Resigned? Afraid? Lonely? Did he long to be seen beyond his useless body? Beyond his weakness and sin? Did he curse during the day and cry the long, dark hours of the night? 

Or did he learn to hold it all in, no word, no tear for the world to see or hear?

Was he wondering if there is ever going to be anything more… anything better for him… even him?

We have no answers to any of the questions. But, there might be a good reason for it.