Leveraging Curiosity Like Jesus Did

We are called to do something different than digging our feet in the sand when people have different opinions than we do. We have one tool at our disposal that God has gifted us with that impacts our relationships. So others can see a path towards peace we must leverage curiosity like Jesus did. 

The Airshow

Last week was the annual San Diego Airshow. The Blue Angels zoomed over our house daily, artillery banged in the distance, and helicopters flew in formation, showing off the powerhouse of the U.S. military. 

With the airshow comes the protesters. They stand or sit on a nearby bridge with their signs. These either talk about either the environmental effect of the airshow or state “Vets for Peace.” My son asked me why they were there. His innocent question was an exceptional example of how we model curiosity.

Curiosity in the Car

Most of the time, when someone shows genuine curiosity about a social issue, we are able to consider a different perspective without being defensive. And as I want to raise changemakers, I intentionally leveraged my son’s curiosity. And so we pondered…what does someone have to believe in enough to take a stand at an airshow?

Here were some ideas we came up with:

• Airshows are like military parades, showing off the might of an institution. They can produce healthy belonging through nationalism, but can also be used for propaganda.
• People might generally be against how much our government puts into the defense budget, believing there are better uses for the money.
• The protesters might be pacifists, worried for the suffering of people now and in the future, as our military funds the global war machine.
• Maybe the protesters actually know the stats of how much damage an airshow does to the environment and they care about the next generation.
  • They want to ensure we have a planet that can sustain our kids.
  • They don’t feel the environmental cost is worth the excitement the airshow brings.
• They’re bored and they find purpose in these types of changemaking activities.
• They found a sense of community within their group protesting.
• They just don’t like jet planes.

Any other potential reasons we might not have seen? To me, some of these are valid points. I’m not sure I would have considered them if we didn’t take the time to be curious. Wondering  about why someone would protest at an airshow actually made me consider what I believe.

The point is, if we want to engage in genuine human communication with others, even if we don’t agree with them, we have to be curious. Curiosity tears down walls that divide us.

Jesus and His Questions

This is one of the reasons I love Jesus. He was known for asking questions. And although he already knew the motivations and concerns of those he was talking to, he used curiosity to foster others’ growth or to address tough subjects. Whether he was teaching his followers or responding to religious teachers questions were in Jesus’ practice. We would do well to learn from his example.

Be Safe Enough To Be Curious With

What’s notable about my conversation with my son is that I didn’t worry about whether he would judge me as we freely wondered about the airshow. I don’t fear his disapproval. I also feel this safety with God myself–that I already belong to him and am enough because he is enough for me. I imagine that if you are always on your toes, fearing salvation with God, you might not feel secure.

But observing Jesus not only leads me to the conclusion that God is safe to be curious, but that he leveraged life-changing wonder by being a safe person.

Not only did Jesus employ the tactic of asking questions, but he fostered safe spaces for others to be curious without the fear of repercussions. Although Jesus has the authority of the ultimate judge, God the Father, he said he didn’t come to judge or condemn the world (John 3:17). Jesus can discern right from wrong perfectly, and yet he was still safe and welcoming to those around him who were typically judged by “the faithful.” He was even a safe person for Nicodemus to wonder with, even though this man was a religious leader, one of Jesus’ classic nemesis.

As we model Jesus’ interactions with others, our curiosity can give birth to others’ curiosity if they feel safe enough to be vulnerable and still accepted. 

Practicing Shalom

My family and I still enjoyed the airshow this weekend from my spot on my front lawn.  But as I watched it, I was aware that it might mean different things to different people. And I am convinced that like Jesus, we can leverage curiosity to be present with them all. In this election season, a time of division, fighting, and pointing fingers, curiosity is how we practice shalom.