How Come?

“Without curiosity a Christian’s life is incomplete.” (Barnabas Piper, The Curious Christian) Hold up the magnifying glass of your mind and examine the world God has created for us. “Become more” is what God told us from the beginning, “increase.” In James 1:25 we’re told… whoever looks intently into the perfect guidance (of God) that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do. There’s a physicality that lies behind the words of Scripture and, in this case, the idea we translate as “looks intently” is captured in the image of a child down on her hands and knees lost in amazement, staring into the grass and watching the movement of the tiny creatures she has discovered there, and what they’re doing with the plants, dirt, seeds, and crumbs they are finding. It is the image of curiosity. The one who looks with curiosity into the instructions of God will discover the freedom that will make life work for them. In the same manner, the one who looks into the eyes and lives of the people around them will be blessed with insight and wisdom that makes relationships thrive. This is obviously different from the person who just scans headlines looking for articles that agree with their point of view, rather than wondering how people with other perspectives got to them. If we only listen to the people who agree with us, we are never taught. One of my professors in college once said, “Read everyone, not just the ones you think have the same perspective as you.” I took that to heart, and I encourage others to follow the advice. “Be curious, not judgmental,” as Ted Lasso quoted Walt Whitman, during the famous dart game. And if you haven’t seen the show “Ted Lasso,” it’s still good instruction. Blessings, Geoff