Curiosity

This is a tough one. I’m quite happy being me, but I can’t see anything particularly special about myself 😀.

I asked my friend Microsoft Copilot to list some valuable traits.

• Empathy – The ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
• Integrity – Being honest and having strong moral principles.
• Resilience – Bouncing back from setbacks and staying strong under pressure.
• Curiosity – A desire to learn, explore, and grow intellectually or emotionally.
• Humility – Recognizing one’s limitations and being open to feedback.
• Kindness – Treating others with compassion and generosity.
• Accountability – Taking responsibility for actions and decisions.
• Adaptability – Adjusting to change with grace and flexibility.
• Patience – Staying calm and composed, especially in challenging situations.
• Authenticity – Being genuine and true to oneself.

I don’t think that I’m totally missing any of these. But I don’t see myself having any of them in abundance either 😀.

I created this blog as an evangelistic site, so one way that I might stand out is that I identify as an evangelical Christian. But an evangelical Christian, like any Christian and probably most other religious people would feel dutybound to love God and love others, but would realize that they fall far short, and are very dependent on the mercy of God. One of my favourite parables is the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Luke 18:9-14
He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others. “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice in the week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

So, it’s not good to think too highly of yourself, but then again, what’s wrong with feeling pleased and having a sense of gratitude when you realize that you have valuable traits?

I can’t see myself winning a prize for any of the listed traits, but for example, I am pleased that I feel more empathetic and humbler now than I was in years gone by. And showing kindness can bring a lot of joy. And I’m pleased that I’m curious. I still have a desire to learn, explore, and grow intellectually or emotionally. I’m not sure if I’m particularly patient or adaptable, but it depends on the circumstance 😀.

So, can I answer the question in one word? I’m tempted to say that I’m fantastic at being humble but maybe that wouldn’t be very humble 😀. I value the fact that I always wanted to know about God and what religion was the correct one. I discovered that it wasn’t so much a religion, denomination or sect but faith in Jesus and his word. Regarding religious groups, I’m most closely aligned to evangelicalism, but there’s a lot to be embarrassed about in any human movement. For example, I might like some evangelical talks on YouTube, but I’d hate a good lot of them too 😀. I have one post listing some of my favourite resources, but I wouldn’t necessarily agree with everything that’s said by everyone in all these.

This is why I’d always point people to Jesus and the Bible rather than religion. He clearly encourages us to fellowship with others and be part of a church, but it’s never a good thing to put all your trust in human institutions.

“The unexamined life is not worth living” 

Maybe some are happy not to examine things, but I am pleased that I was curious and that I still am. I don’t give myself credit for this. God himself gives us the desire to reach out to him. I think of the following verses from John’s gospel.

John 6:37
“All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

John 6:44
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

So, let’s close with a Christian hymn about reflection and curiosity and a recent secular song about kindness.