A Case for Mystery
Several thousand years ago the pandemic hit and I was afforded more downtime. Since then, I spend most of my free time reading. If I’m not reading books on religion or philosophy, you’ll find my nose buried in classic literature. While I love literature of all genres, there is nothing I love more than a good mystery. A whodunit is always my go to when I’m bored. And no matter if you are a reader or not, I think everyone on the planet is wired to want mystery in some degree. What is it about the unknown that humans are so drawn toward? So many movies and books in other genres are spiced with threads of suspense. If variety is the spice of life, then mystery is cayenne pepper.
Looking back through history we can find religion as far back as the earliest civilizations. We question our purpose and meaning in this world. Religion in general is about connecting us to the Greater Unknown whether that Unknown is inside of our beings or outside them. Life is a mystery and we are always searching for the answers. It was because of religion-and sometimes in spite of it-we find some of the world’s greatest achievements. But no matter the accomplishment, great or small, they all began with mystery and wonder. Copernicus’ heliocentric model, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, and the Apollo 11 on the moon all started with the questions of ‘if’ and then ‘how.’ The seven wonders of the world all began with a person’s thought of ‘what if’.
While reading a mystery novel, nearly every chapter I find myself questioning suspects and motives and I can’t help but feel that sometimes this is a mirror for our own lives. Not necessarily murder of course (!) but we wander around pursing those who fit in our tribe and seek motives for our own actions and feelings. The greatest artists wove life’s mysteries into skillful characters to help explain the human dilemma. We are complex creatures and it can take a lifetime to find our true selves. Agatha Christie had a spectacular capacity to pen humanity on page. Her characters have a wide breadth of what drives them-their motivations for all sorts of actions. She always finished her stories with the cherry of twists on top that had you guessing til the end.
Mystery is a fabulous escape from reality. Unlike a feel good story, every chapter has you contemplating the answers to the questions. Even Harry Potter is laced with all sorts of mysteries. I think by far one of the cleverest characters of Rowling’s is Professor Snape and this is due to his mysterious behavior. Does he really hate Harry or not? Often his vitriol and contempt are spat from the pages, and other times he seems almost protective. From the very first book you are left wondering how in the world Dumbledore could trust such a person to teach children! The more we learn, the more we are confused until the final ending. It was love that drove Severus Snape. Deep, interminable love. And those are my favorite sorts of mysteries. The ones that end in love. The mystery of life-its meaning, its strongest force, its driving will-can all be summed up in love. That love is as nuanced as each person. Maybe that’s why I love mystery. Behind murder, theft, or any action in the plot there is usually an element of love or love’s twisted imitation named obsession. And I’m always itching for more.
Not everyone likes a whodunit. Some find them obnoxious. But whether you like it or not, you are going to have mystery in your life. Sometimes the mystery and questions are dramatic enough to change our lives. Other times they can be just as small and nagging as a mosquito buzzing around your head. I’m always searching for deeper meaning in my faith, my life, and my books. It drives me. My obsession began with Nancy Drew and Jessica Fletcher and now no matter how engrossing Poirot and Holmes are, I know they are just caricatures of me searching for answers. But right now I am content and I plan on picking up that Louise Penny book that has been calling my name all day.
