Because..

Probably the worst reason to do something. For example...

One of the young people came in last week to say he was getting a tattoo along the length of his fore arm. It is a "tribal design", or nondescript lines as I would call it. The problem is that he is 14 years old and no amount of convincing would have him put it off until he was older. His mother was paying for it and in his eyes that made it legal. The law states you have to be 18 years old to have a tattoo done, and the come back is that his mother gave him permission (in the same way it must be legal to drive at 14 with your parents permission). I asked him why he wanted a tattoo, and the reason was "Because." No over whelming reason that he could offer. Just "because". (of course there are reasons that he wanted the tattoo and they were more about pressure to conform t o a certain way of seeming to those around him, but it was hard to articulate for a 14r year old) . "Because" is a lousy reason to do anything. Being a church member and seeing things done in a certain way "because", or offensive parades taking place "because". Because is for when we know the reasons do not hold water when shown the light of day. "Because" is for hiding behind.

That is all well and good to for me to think that way, but last weekend I met a man who was cycling round the coast of Ireland. It was quite inspirational to talk to this man in his late 60's (at least) and listen to him talk about his journey and the ones he had done in the past. Just before he cycled off into the sunrise (well north anyway, but it was a cloudy day), I asked if he was doing this great feet for charity. "No," he said, "just because."

My absolutist argument shot down. I'm glad.