Hey friend! I'm Liz
“Learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child.”
If you have kids or spend any decent amount of time with any, you’ll know that they all have this one thing in common: insatiable curiosity.
Recent questions I’ve been asked by my kids (aged five and seven):
How old is God?
How old was Jesus when Jack Black was born (big fans… of both)?
How does a baby actually get inside a mummy’s tummy? Tell me the truth! I NEED to know!
What does (insert swear word) mean?
Is God a man or a woman?
Can I have more chocolate?
Why is that lady crying?
How come some kids don’t have enough food to eat?
Do I HAVE to go to school?
Whose gonna die first, you or Daddy?
So. Many. Questions.
At some point, while growing up, we were taught either directly or indirectly, to stop asking. As annoying as my kids curiosity sometimes is; as much as it brings them home covered in dirt with scrapes and bruises and sometimes tears or tales of adventure; as much as it disrupts what I’m doing (they always ask while I’m in the MIDDLE of something); as much as their curiosity can get them in trouble and drive me crazy, I never want them to stop being curious. About everything.
Curiosity is emboldened by trust. A Holy curiosity, a divine vocation of learning, is empowered by faith.
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Kids want to:
LEARN
KNOW
DISCOVER
Their curiosity is key to their development.
When did we get the idea that at some point we graduate from the learning and development process?
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks says that “Faith is not opposed to questions, but it is opposed to the shallow certainty that what we understand is all there is.”
Einstein said: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.”
Jesus said, “Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in.” (Matt 18:3).
We must keep on living into curiosity that explores things such as this:
“Am I my brother's keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1).
“Who is my neighbor” (Luke 10:29).
“Where shall I go from your Spirit?” (Psalm 139:7)
“What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
“Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6).
“What is truth?” (John 18:38).
There is so much more to learn.
My children trust me. Even though I stuff up, even though I sometimes forget to meet them at the bus stop and I lie to them about veggies in their dinner (that MIGHT be a complete abuse of trust), they trust my love for them. And that sense of “being held” in my love, gives their curiosity freedom. They boldly ask questions. They understand that learning is not something to be ashamed of, but is something to engage in, celebrate and embrace. Learning and continuing to learn is what is going to open the world up to them.
It never ends.
Curiosity is emboldened by trust. A Holy curiosity, a divine vocation of learning, is empowered by faith.
A faith that says, “there is more going on here than I currently know.”
So curious one, explore the depths and heights and wonders of it all, just like you did when you were young.
Written by Lizzy Milani
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