Be Curious: Surviving and Thriving in a Divided World
Author: Zayna Thomley - Lead Pastor
Fall Worship Series begins September 22nd
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.” (Albert Einstein)
Beloved MCCers,
Most weekday mornings as his parents are getting ready for work, my 3 year-old watches Sesame Street on PBSKids. As I watch over his shoulder while packing lunches I’m often caught in awe by the reality of quality programming for over 50 years. Sesame Street has been a place of inclusion, education, and fun for four generations now. These days there is a new theme song (You're getting smarter, stronger, kinder!); familiar characters are joined by an increasingly diverse cast (including puppets with autism or living in foster care); and Cookie Monster has taken on a business partner and opened a food truck serving a wide variety of healthy foods from around the world (don’t worry, he still saves room for cookies).
The most recent generation of Sesame Street weaves a familiar equation for problem solving through each storyline: “I wonder. What if? Let’s try!” We’ve run out of blocks before finishing our castle. I wonder if there is anything else we can use… What if we try these empty oatmeal containers? Let’s try! At the heart of Sesame Street’s lasting magic is the value of curiosity, questioning, and instilling a love for learning.
We often think of curiosity as just for kids or as a negative thing in our faith journey, but curiosity is a value for ALL of us. Being curious about the world around us is a spiritual practice. We can be curious about other people which leads to empathy, community and social justice. We can be curious about God which leads to prayer and reflection. We can be curious about ourselves which leads to better mental health and healing.
In this series, Be Curious: Surviving and Thriving in a Divided World, we will explore, experiment, and challenge ourselves to Be Curious! We will follow Jesus’ example, worshiping in curious new ways and asking plenty of questions. We will fellowship in ways that encourage curiosity about our community. We will be compassionate for others and work for social justice. Just as much as the residents of Sesame Street, this divided world needs more curious questions. Let’s explore together!
In Curiosity and Hope,
Pastor Zayna
