…magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.”
-Matthew 2:1-2

Children of a certain age like to play the Why Game, asking, in response to every answer, “Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?” It’s a surefire method for annoying adults, but it’s also the child’s discovery of curiosity: there is always one more question to ask. The world is full of strange and wonderful things we’ve never seen and these children are realizing the only limit to curiosity is fatigue. As adults, we learn to reign in our curiosity, to mind our own business and set limits far before we’re fatigued. The magi remind us that curiosity is a strength and that we learn only as much as we make ourselves available to new learning. They are three grown men who have decided to shape their lives around the decision to not mind their own business. They live in a state of curiosity. Their curiosity begins with the highest level of power, in the court of King Herod, but they quickly realize that curiosity goes beyond our hierarchy, and to learn only from those in power is to learn only what supports the status quo. The magi allow curiosity to lead them to unexpected places, and discover the journey was more worthwhile than they’d ever imagined. Curiosity is the belief that the unknown, far from being terrifying, may hold miracles that will make your life fuller and more astounding.

Takeaway: Be curious in a new direction. Ask questions of someone you haven’t gotten to know; duck into a new place purely to see what’s in it.  Wonder. Explore. Assume God moves in the space between your ignorance and your knowing.

Gathering the Stones is providing 40 days of reflections on resilience during Lent. Check back for new reflections every day (except Sundays).