During the last few months Joy, our almost 12 year old German Shorthaired Pointer, has been extremely curious.
Today Joy stuffed her head into a mound of snow, apparently looking for something. She has investigated the use of essential oils, trying out the effects of lavender, lemon and melaleuca. She taste-tested granola bar wrappers, trail mix packaging, and packs of bubble gum.
Learning to open packaged medicine, bandaid boxes as well as vitamin jars hasn’t curbed her curiosity but enlivened her quests. It appeared that treasures awaited Joy in the garbage can so she curiously removed the lid and dumped its contents throughout the house, investigating each parcel and morsel within.
Joy checked out Sophie’ mermaid work clothing bag and deep within found a reusable snack bag, so she tore through its frame to sample the variety of nuts. Apparently, everything within and around the house needed exploration. Even though, in dog years, Joy is mature and even on the older end, her inquisitive spirit and curious nature seemingly have exploded.
Kids and animals portray great curiosity, but what about us when we mature and age, do we remain as curious?
Curious – Eager to know or learn something.
Do you ever just wonder, allowing yourself to be curious?
Curiosity welcomes growth and learning. In humility, the curious individual wonders, explores, and without judgement inquires. How can being curious deepen your relationships? Instead of assuming we know or understand others, curiosity leads to fascination, surprise, and awe. We become students of one another and welcome the ways God uniquely fashioned each person. Greater appreciation and admiration arise as we curiously approach the people in our lives.
Too often we make assumptions, believing we understand or know the why’s and how’s of the people around us. What if, instead, we lived curious about them? Watching, noticing, posing questions, purely listening without an agenda, and genuinely desiring to understand and appreciate the puzzle of each person.
Hold what you learn with grace and gratitude. Discard judgement, critique, and dismissal from your encounters. Approach others with a welcoming heart to enjoy, appreciate, and marvel at God’s creativity and special formation of all. Enjoy the space as a gift from God to humbly grow deeper.
Be curious! Try being curious about your spouse, children, co-workers, neighbors, friends, post office person, airline steward, etc.
Be curious about people, places, things and most of all, God.
Let curiosity lead you to explore God’s creation; it’s animals, plants, terrain, and seas. Be inquisitive and learn new things about the laws of nature and the scientific wonders of the world. Notice particularities, odd sights, and beautiful colors. Wonder as the Swedish poet Carl Boberg did, resulting in the hymn, How Great Thou Art.
Be curious about the God of the universe, His handwork, and His ways. Probe into His Word. Wonder with the Holy Spirit as your companion. Approach the triune God with desire, questions, fascination and amazement.
I wonder if the disciples experienced great curiosity when Jesus walked on top of the lake toward them as recorded in Matthew 14:22-33. What held Jesus up? Were his feet wet? Did the water feel warm or cold?
I wonder if the hemorrhaging woman was curious what would actually happen if she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment (see Mark 5). Did she feel a tingle? Did a burning sensation flood her body?
I wonder if Jonah shook himself to see if he was just having a dream when a giant sea creature swallowed him whole. Was he curious about the inside anatomy of the creature? Did he try to escape? What did it really smell like? (see Jonah)
I wonder if Ezekiel exhibited curiosity about the symbolism of lying on his side for 390 days. Did his legs cramp up? How did he actually eat? What was the response of those around him? (see Ezekiel 4)
I wonder if Ananias was curious about his call to go to Saul, the murderer. Did Ananias wonder why he was chosen to pray over Saul? What did it feel like as he laid his hands on Saul? Did he notice an immediate shift within Saul? (see Acts 9)
I wonder what the friends of Dorcas experienced after she was raised to life. Did she smile differently? What did Peter do to bring about this change? How would Dorcas serve now that she tasted death? (see Acts 9)
Approach life with curious wonder. Think of questions. Notice. Explore.
Look and live with curiosity. It doesn’t just have to be children and our pets that get to be curious. No matter our age, we can approach the life God has given us with great curiosity and growth.
Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.Job 37:14-16
“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Check out these suggested readings.
Barnabas Piper. The Curious Christian: How Discovering Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life. Nashville,TN.2017.
Elizabeth Caldwell. I Wonder: Engaging a Child’s Curiosity about the Bible. Nashville, TN. 2016.
Anthem Lights. How Great Thou Art. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48i4l1715uc