UU minister, Victoria Safford, speaks of curiosity using the metaphor of perception and sight. She writes,
“To see, simply to look and to see, is an ethical act and intentional choice; to see, with open eyes, is a spiritual practice and thus a risk, for it can open you to ways of knowing the world and loving it that will lead to inevitable consequences. The awakened eye is a conscious eye, a willful eye, and brave, because to see things as they are, each in its own truth, will make you very vulnerable.”
In response, Rev. Scott Tayler writes:
“Consequences. I’m not sure I’ve ever thought of curiosity in terms of consequences. But I think Safford’s got it right. There is a type of curiosity that is about enjoyment and adventure. It invites us to experience life as a playground. But there is another type of curiosity that leads to consequences, that changes us. This kind of curiosity is about more than enjoyment. Indeed, it’s the kind that drives us past enjoyment and comfort. It’s not about enriching oneself; it’s about altering oneself.”
Altering oneself can be a scary thought. We know, or at least we think we know, who we are now. To take steps that lead us into the unknown leaves us feeling vulnerable and insecure. And yet, how different our lives would be if we never stepped into the unknown, if we never took a risk. The risks in my life have been numerous. Marriage, deciding to have children, becoming a minister, moving to another city to answer a call to serve a congregation, were all life altering steps. When things don’t turn out like I hope, I call it a growth experience and search for a beneficial life lesson. I’ve discovered that getting curious can be an antidote to suffering. It can also open doors to amazing and wonderful discoveries.
May is often the month that Unitarian Universalist Congregations begin to wrap up a church year, make some decisions about the coming church year, then take a little time for rest and renewal. Although we no longer close our churches for the summer, while ministers head to Cape Cod, something of that rhythm remains. This Sunday, UUCP will make some decisions about its future. I hope the choices open doors to amazing and wonderful discoveries.
In Love and Hope,
Rev. Alice