Boundless curiosity and delight in the world
This Lent, we journey with Eve's questioning, longing and seeking of God, writes Cynthia Jarvis.
Suppose Eve had simply said “Nah, I’m good,” instead of munching on a piece of shiny fruit. Suppose Mary, Martha’s sister, had chosen to act as a hostess instead of sitting and listening to the words of Jesus. What if Pharaoh’s daughter had let the basket float its way down the river?
Suppose Mary Magdalene, holding her basket of anointing herbs, had simply backed away slowly from the open tomb rather than looking inside.
The Bible encourages us to dream, to look beyond the mundane, to “Seek, and ye shall find.” It would be harder to imagine the kingdom on earth if we didn’t investigate practical ways to bring it about.
It would be a challenge to reinvent our ministries without contemplating our evolving world. It would be impossible to know our neighbors without sincere wonder.
Without searching our hearts, we couldn’t be the Christians we aspire to be.
Searching isn’t a guarantee that we will like what we find. But without searching, we will not find our way closer to each other, the will of God or to God. In this issue of the Outlook, we wonder about curiosity.
This Lent, we journey with Eve's questioning, longing and seeking of God, writes Cynthia Jarvis.
Shani McIlwain reflects on the power of active listening in coaching, fostering curiosity, empathy, and understanding to build stronger relationships.
A poignant poetry collection on memory, loss, and healing, "Seeing Things" explores trauma, family, and resilience. Amy Pagliarella offers a review.
"Becoming the Pastor’s Wife" is a must-read for those who enjoy church history, cultural commentary, or a really good mystery, writes Amy Pagliarella.
The Anti-Greed Gospel pairs theology with practical approaches: economic solidarity, creative anti-violence, and prophetic storytelling.
To address the world's most entrenched problems, we need people who yearn to know more about our world and the creatures with whom we share it. — James Calvin Davis
Samwise Gamgee, a hobbit who is happy with his garden, still feels the spark of something beyond within him. — Whitney Wilkinson Arreche
We have always had prophets who have used their creative witness to leave this world better than they found it. — Winterbourne Harrison-Jones
What if Eve's story gives us permission to tap into our own curiosity? — Kerra Becker English
In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation.
Being curious takes vulnerability and courage, writes Teri McDowell Ott, but this is the soft, fertile soil from which spring flowers bloom.
Rosalind Banbury's eighth reflection on the 2024-2025 Presbyterian Women/Horizons Bible Study.