Never answer a hypothetical question. If you do it will only get you in trouble.

That’s my advice when giving media training to politicians. Speculation on what they might or might not do in a specific situation that has not or did not occur can commit them to a path they later regret. Better to keep their options open and not give the media anything they can use against them at a later point.

Politicians who don’t learn that lesson early can wind up paying a huge price. In 2008 Stephane Dion might have become Prime Minister of Canada, if not for his answer to a hypothetical question. (And I won’t comment on the appalling lack of media ethics in that situation!)

There are times though when it is appropriate to wonder “what if?” It is good to re-examine choices made, and to reflect on the outcomes of those choices. What if I was a better skater? Would I have been a National Hockey League star? (The answer to that one is no; my lack of talent went far beyond merely being a poor skater.)

What if I hadn’t quit my job at McDonald’s? Would I be better off financially today, 42 years later? (Strangely enough the answer is yes; I’ll tell you about it someday if you ask me.)

Those are situational hypotheticals, ones that frequently don’t have a right answer until you are facing the situation for real. There are however bigger questions that not only need to be asked but answered, ones that go beyond superficial speculation.

Pop singer Prince is asking one of those these days. His latest single, which came as an unexpected surprise to his fans when it was released a couple of weeks ago, is titled “What If?” It is a cover version of a song by Nichole Nordeman that was a hit on Christian radio in North America almost a decade ago.

The question in the song is not hypothetical. This is no lament for roads not taken. The lyrics speak for themselves:

What If?

What if you’re right?
He was just another nice guy.
What if you’re right?

What if it’s true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you.
What if it’s true?

What if He takes His place in history with all the prophets and the kings
who taught us love and came in peace, but then the story ends?

What then?

But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you’ve never dreamed of hoping for?

What if you jump?
Just close your eyes.
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?

What if you dig way down deeper
than your simple-minded friends?
What if you dig?

What if you find a thousand more unanswered questions down inside?

That’s all you find?

What if you pick apart the logic and begin poke the holes?
What if the crown of thorns is no more than folklore that must be told
and re-told, and re-told?

But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you’ve never dreamed of hoping for?

What if you jump?
Just close your eyes.
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?

‘Cuz you’ve been running as fast as you can.
You’ve been looking for a place you land for so long.

But what if you’re wrong?

What if you jump?
Just close your eyes.
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?

Tomorrow is Good Friday. Sunday is Easter. What if Jesus is indeed who he claimed to be, God incarnate? How do you deal with that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M-rPbjmTCI

(If you are receiving the email version of this post I think you’ll have to go to the original post for the link to work.)