“Growing an Appetite for the Glory of God”
Dear writer, I hope you enjoyed your week and began to identify disciplines that will help you step more fully into your identity as a writer! This week, we’re going to shift gears and look at developing curiosity. You see, here’s the thing…
Anything we write is derived from something we’ve experienced, and curiosity unlocks the floodgates when it comes to experiencing life. After all, many of life’s more impactful moments were sparked by our deep interest in a particular topic, place, person, or activity.
But before we dive in, let’s take a look at others who intentionally developed their curiosity in ways that opened doors to whole new realms for them and others…
Developing Curiosity in History
Marco Polo is a great example of a man who developed his curiosity when his father, a traveling merchant, took him at age 15 to bring holy water and jewels to the Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan in China. Marco eagerly absorbed, examined, and documented every step of the arduous journey. When they arrived, Emperor Khan—impressed by Marco’s intelligence and humility—made Marco as an emissary of the Mongolian empire to Burma, Tibet, and India, appointing him next as a governor of a Chinese city, then a member of the Privy Council, and finally a tax inspector.
Marco embraced these roles with enthusiasm, and when he returned to Venice 23 years later, his accounts of his time in Asia were too amazing to be believed by most. Yet his book chronicling those journeys inspired and aided many future explorers, including Christopher Columbus.
You see, writer, when we develop our curiosity, we are developing a love of learning and a courage to embrace opportunities. And here’s the amazing thing. As we allow curiosity to inspire and expand our perspective and unique voice, that courage can spark curiosity and vision in the hearts of others, too.
Developing Curiosity in the Bible
Ruth is another wonderful example of someone who developed her curiosity. Though Naomi came with her husband and sons as a foreigner to Ruth’s country, Ruth’s interest in her mother-in-law’s faith soon became a conviction of her own. When Naomi announced she would make the dangerous journey back to Israel, Ruth’s conviction led her to become a foreigner in a new land. But Ruth, determined to learn all she could of her newfound faith, diligently worked to provide for herself and Naomi as she learned the Hebraic culture. Her curiosity not only led her to Boaz’s fields, it also—through their marriage—placed her directly in King David’s messianic lineage.
You see, writer, curiosity no only helps us to embrace new experiences and growth. It makes opens us to recognize and make big and small changes in life that draw us closer to Him.
Developing Curiosity in Life
I developed my curiosity when I decided to take an “all ages” hip hop class shortly after my mother died. Though on the first day of class I discovered the other students were elementary and middle school aged, I decided not to leave embarrassed but to engage my curiosity and stay. The class turned out to be a wonderful experience, and when the dance teacher was unexpectedly absent for two recital performances, my presence as a familiar adult was a great encouragement to my young classmates. Not only that, when I traveled to Uganda a year later, I found my hip hop lessons had prepared me to easily join in the expressive praise and worship of African churches and crusade meetings.
You see, here’s the thing, writer. Curiosity also grows a humility that positions us to influence and impact others in ways we never expected.
Developing Curiosity in Your Life
Developing curiosity opens us to the Lord’s leading into brand new realms. And it also grows our ability to recognize His presence and unique handiwork in the midst of any circumstance or relationship. Let me show you…
- It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. – Proverbs 25:2
- For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. – Romans 1:20
- An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. – Proverbs 18:15
- “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7
- …these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:10
You see, writer, developing your curiosity is really about developing your desire and ability to know our King, who expresses His heart and ways through all that He has made and hides His image in everyone we encounter. Developing curiosity develops our appetite for to seek out His glory and presence all around us. And here’s the beautiful thing…
As we begin to recognize God’s glory in the people meet and places we go, it enables us to hold and express more and more of His heart. And here’s the amazing thing. As we allow His glory to change us, it opens the door for His transforming power to work in others, too. Just like Marco’s wonder-filled account of Asia inspired those who discovered the New World. Just like Ruth’s newfound faith led to a marriage and family that brought the promised messiah. Just like my curiosity about hip hop opened doors for connection and encouragement not just in my class but across the globe.
In the same way, as you give yourself permission to develop your curiosity, you have no idea how God will begin to unveil new aspects of Himself in and through you. As we give our hearts to Him with an unfettered “yes” as He leads us, we will find ourselves in that sacred workmanship He’s prepared for us—no matter how challenging the road is at times.
The roads that curiosity led Marco, Ruth, and myself down were not always easy. Marco made a difficult trek through the Gobi desert and a homeward voyage that few survived. Ruth risked life in a foreign land with no guarantee of acceptance or success. I laid aside pride to learn alongside children. But our willingness to try—to attempt something wildly out of the ordinary—opened doors for others to experience the extraordinary too.
Where to Start with Developing Curiosity
So, are you ready to develop your curiosity? Here are a few ideas to get you started!
- Be Present. Make it a priority to be fully present wherever you are and fully aware of all that is going on around you. Take note of the sights, smells, sounds, sensations, feelings, relationships, and histories. This not only increases our joy as we begin to recognize the beauty and significance of each moment, it also creates stronger memories and broader perspective that will bubble up in and through our writing.
- Engage with People. Wherever you are, take special note of the people around you. Give a smile. Strike up a conversation. Ask you waitress how they are doing and really be interested. As we increasingly engage with those around us, it deepens our understanding of the richness and depth of human personality which adds richness and depth to our own lives and work as we begin to recognize where God has set eternity in the hearts of those we meet. And as curiosity draws us to engage, unexpected doors will open to speak life and light and encouragement, too.
- Try New Things. Have you ever wanted to learn to tango? To see the Grand Canyon? To try Vietnamese food? To (fill in the blank)? Go ahead and take a step toward those thing that have interested you. As you give yourself permission to explore, it can be amazing to see how God begins to work through desires He’s placed on your heart.
- Dream & Play. Taking the time to daydream about the future or possibilities is a good way to spark and grow our curiosity. And play—allowing ourselves to simply try or experiment without concern over the outcome—is a fantastic way to give that curiosity “feet.” Because here’s the thing…
Curiosity is really about freedom. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And that freedom gives us the innate boldness we need to follow where He leads. Because here’s the thing, writer…
Developing our curiosity, at heart, is about developing our relationship with Father God as His child. It’s about learning to come boldly to Him with our questions and needs. It’s about learning to trust more and more His heart and ways and character as He moves in and through us. And here’s the most truly beautiful thing…
As we step into the freedom He’s given us as His children, we become people His freedom can flow through to others. Just like Marco’s freedom fueled the exploration of those seeking freedom of worship who founded our country. Just like Ruth’s freedom made her part of God’s plan to redeem the world. Just like my freedom unexpectedly touched lives, not just in my hometown, but across the globe.
So I encourage you, writer. Grab hold of your curiosity and embrace the freedom to try or learn something new this week. Because here’s the final thought. Developing our curiosity is about learning to receive the love of the Father to try and do and learn and love without fear. As you do, God’s perfect love, which casts out all fear, will grow and flow more and more deeply in and through you, too.
#curiosity #love #courage #faith #EveryWriterWriting
