Day 3
Following Curiosity
Read Matthew 18:1-4
I’m sure we’re all familiar with this teaching of Jesus, but take a moment to consider what He meant when He said to become like a child. What are children like? What would it look like to try and become more childlike?
There are so many directions we could go with that, but I want to focus on the insatiable curiosity of children. Even before babies can walk, they are curious— devoting all of their attention to any unusual sounds or scooting along the floor in order to tactilely discover their environment by any means necessary. This curiosity carries into childhood as they soak up the unfolding world around them and are constantly amazed by things that have become normal for us.
I’ve found curiosity to be such an easy starting point for great discoveries with the Lord. When I find myself suddenly intrigued by something, I try to give myself permission to observe, research, and consider. Sometimes this simply leads to enjoyment and wonder, which in and of itself is akin to worship. But sometimes I find that God intentionally causes something to stand out to me, as a way to start a conversation and share His heart with me.
Psalm 104:24 and Romans 1:20 explain that when God created everything we see and know, He made it with the deep intricacies of wisdom and hid His nature inside of it. All of what God made has something to teach us about Him if we choose see it in that light. Slowing down and following our curiosity can lead to some really beautiful moments with Him.
Creative Prompt:
Let’s practice this!
This prompt is mainly about slowing down, being present, and delighting, so don’t feel any pressure to come away with something super deep or revelatory. In the same way that some of the best moments with our loved ones are just about being together in the ordinary, let this time with God be the same!
Look around your house or scour your drawers and closets for an object that piques your curiosity. If you’d prefer, you can do this same prompt with something that grabs your attention in nature. Bring the object near you and study it for a bit. Look deeper than usual, noting your new observations.
Set a timer on your phone for 10 minutes. Pick up a paper and pen and begin to “free-write” about the object. This is just like it sounds— you are free to write bullet points, sentences, abstract associations, and concrete observations. Just record your stream of consciousness about the object.
What does it make you think of? Do you have any memories associated with it? Do you have any questions about it? Do you want to experiment with some figurative language to describe it? Go whatever route that you feel led, just don’t think too hard about it and try to write the whole time. It doesn’t have to be something beautiful or complete, you’re just giving your mind the freedom to flow.
Now, set a timer for 5 minutes and draw a “blind contour” of the object. For a blind contour, you put your pen on the paper and never pick it up, using just one continual line to draw the object. The blind part is, you can’t look at your paper while you draw! Instead, keep your eyes moving slowly over the outline of the object and as you do, blindly draw exactly what you see. The goal of this is to slow down and really take in the object’s form, while also freeing you from the need for it to “look good”.
Lastly, ask the Father: “What do you want to say to me through this object?”. Take a moment to listen. Then, in faith, journal the Father’s words to you from His perspective.
Here are some of my examples of a blind contour and a free-write with mixed media :)
If you have time and want take this further, you can:
Read back over your “free-write” and circle the sentences and words that you find interesting. Work on developing them into a poem or written piece.
Take more time to redraw and/or paint a picture of the object
Creatively combine all these things on one paper, in a mixed media sort of way
Take a picture of the object and share it with the group