We are at the midpoint in our Lenten journey. In last month’s newsletter I introduced the spiritual practice of stillness and silence as a tool for identifying habits and practices that might be distracting us – leaving us unable to hear God whispering– calling us to let go and trust that God has a plan for us and this community. Like Jesus, we are having a wilderness experience. If we follow Jesus’ example of stillness and silence – we will emerge with a clearer understanding of who we are, as God’s people, and what God is calling us to.
As we prepare to have our first Dinner & Discernment gathering – our first gathering to begin the transitional work that is the focus of my time with you – I would like to introduce a second spiritual practice. Curiosity. You might be thinking to yourself – Curiosity as a spiritual practice? In this time of uncertainty and fear, I would argue that curiosity is a powerful spiritual antidote.
Author Celeste Ng recounted that her family motto is “Be kind, be curious, be helpful” and that her son didn’t understand why curious is in the mix. She told him:
“Because being curious is admitting that you don’t know, but also that you want to know... that people you don’t know are worth knowing, that they have something to teach you. That learning about them—that encountering new ideas—doesn’t threaten you, it enriches you... That you approach the world as a trove of things to take in, rather than things you frantically, fearfully wall out.”
I am a huge proponent of curiosity. It keeps us engaged in the world around us – leaving little space for fear. I was recently asked by another pastor doing Transitional Ministry how I am able to meet and engage people when I am out in the community. I explained that I don’t do anything special – I’m simply curious and – despite being an introvert by nature – have allowed curiosity to be the driver. Albert Einstein once said,
“The important thing is not to stop
questioning... never lose a holy curiosity.”
I love that he called it a holy curiosity – that it is something sacred and essential to living and loving life.
I think Jesus appreciates curiosity. In the gospels, Jesus asks over 300 questions, but of the 183 he was asked, he only directly answered three. He preferred to answer questions with a question of his own, preferring instead to parables and metaphors. Jesus wanted people to be curious – to think – to contemplate as they discovered the meaning behind Jesus’ teachings.
Curiosity keeps us open and wondering – less likely to judge or shut down. I believe that right now, God is calling us to be curious.
What are you curious about?
How might God be calling us to be curious?
Blessings,
Pastor Lynda