Cultivating Curiosity
Do you remember Curious George? In most books, Curious George "was a good little monkey and always very curious”. But in at least one of the books, we are told that "George was a good little monkey BUT he was always curious." (emphasis mine) Maybe I'm exercising my exegetical skills too much as I read to our youngest child. But these two opening passges are conveying two different things, aren't they? In version one, being "good" and being curious are compatible. In the second, the two characteristics are contrasted. Is it bad to be curious? I would suggest it's not. In fact, it's a very important characteristic of disciples of Jesus Christ. Take Matthew 13 for example. At the beginning of the chapter, Jesus is teaching the multitudes. His twelve are there to hear the parable of the sower. In verse 10, they pull Jesus aside and show their curiosity: "Why do you speak to them in parables?" Jesus gives them a long answer then offers a ...