Killing Da Vinci’s Cat
“But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Over the years, I have read a couple of biographies of Leonardo Da Vinci. Sadly, none of Leonardo’s abilities and skills rubbed off on me. Who knows, maybe a third biography might do the trick. In the meantime, I will simply have to live with the desire to live life with a wider breath of learning and understanding. Writer Thomas Oppong points out, “Leonardo da Vinci maintained a passionate curiosity throughout life.” Curiosity may kill the cat, but it is a door to a whole new way of approaching life.
On one level, Christian faith is easy because God loves and accepts us. Our belief is grounded in God’s call, but it is also painfully difficult because of the command to moral commitment, to intellectual prowess, and to compassionate adherence to justice. Further, a curiosity about these areas adds depth to our relationship with God and enhances our joy in living. We need not be afraid to question. God’s truth is bigger than our minor probing inquiries.
A Christian is anyone God calls and who believes in God, responding with prayer, worship, and compassion in God’s name. Curiosity about who you are worshiping can make the praying, worshiping, and caring more meaningful and illuminating. When you dive into the Bible and learn how God related to Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, Jesus, the Apostles, Paul, and John of Patmos, etc., we can begin to understand how God wants to relate to us. When we are curious about how to address issues of poverty, inequality, and other forms of injustice, we can fulfill God’s command to “Love Thy Neighbor.” Curiosity brings life, color, meaning, and depth. Joy, laughter, and love are fulfilled in the curiosity that brings meaning and depth to your relationship with God.
Today, think about what makes you curious. If anything should pique your curiosity, it should be God. God made you. God redeemed you. God sustains you. Everything you are and ever will be is because of God. If that doesn’t make you curious about God, then nothing will. Ask God to deepen your curiosity and to be open to the unique ways God reveals Godself to you. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it brings us a meaningful, impactful life.
