“If you search for it as you would for silver, and dig for it as you would for buried treasure, you will understand what awe of YHWH is, and discover how to truly know God."

~ Proverbs 2 (Inclusive Bible)

The Case for Curiosity

Is it just me, or does it feel like we are surrounded by more statements than questions these days? In conversations at dinner tables or at work, in posts or comment threads that fill our screens, certainty often arrives faster than curiosity. Someone shares something vulnerable or complex, and instead of listening with curiosity, we respond with our own perspective. (Honestly, I cannot tell you how many times I have done this just this week!) We are not trying to be dismissive. Most of us care deeply. Yet so often we are listening just enough to prepare our reply.

And it makes sense, especially in times laden with fear and uncertainty. Statements feel solid and give us something to stand on. To a point, that instinct serves us well. There are broad, deep truths worth holding onto – that God loves this world, that we belong to each other, that grace is always at work, and so on. Those aren't going anywhere.

But when we lean only on what we already know, we stop making room for anything new. We can miss the chance to truly hear each other, growing distant instead of drawing closer. We may even become closed off to unexpected answers or the gentle ways God guides us. Sometimes fresh insight, unexpected guidance, or a word we didn't know we needed all require us to stay a little curious.

This week in our Abiding in Awe series, we're exploring curiosity. Not curiosity as idle distraction, but the deep kind – the kind Proverbs describes as digging for buried treasure. The kind that believes God is still revealing, still speaking, still unfolding something among us. Curiosity is often a doorway to awe, because it keeps us open long enough to realize there is more here than we first thought.

One small curiosity-building practice I'm trying to embrace more often is simply asking the next open-ended question. It sounds almost too simple, but it could make all the difference and holds surprising depth in complicated times. Close-ended questions (the ones with yes-or-no answers) tend to shut things down. They confirm what we already suspect. But open-ended questions? What might God be doing here? What am I not seeing yet? What would it look like to respond with love? Those kinds of questions crack the door open. They make room for the Spirit to surprise us.

Meister Eckhart once wrote, "Be willing to be a beginner every single morning." That's a tall order for those of us who like to feel competent and in control. But being a beginner isn't about knowing less; it's about staying open to more. One simple, practical way to step into a beginner's mindset is to take just one minute before your next meeting or conversation, to silently name three things you do not yet know about the topic, situation, or people involved. Let your curiosity about those unknowns shape how you show up.

This Saturday morning, we have a beautiful opportunity to practice this. Our Contemplative Retreat is a space to develop our ability to let go, to center ourselves, and to take a curious, receptive posture before God. And if you've been curious about contemplative practices but weren't sure where to start, this is a perfect time to come find out.

What's your next open question? (Resist the urge to answer quite yet!)