Faith column: Holy curiosities

WORTHINGTON — A friend of mine told me a long time ago that one of the best things you can do is stay curious. I’ve found this to be a wonderfully fascinating idea over the years. As a new transplant to Worthington, it’s been a joy to learn and discover what life around town really looks like.

As the lake has, finally, melted away and the waterfowl and animals start making their noise, it’s been fun to wonder about what things the thaw will bring. We have seen a few new creatures in the area like the silly walk of a Timberdoodle and the return of swans to Lake Okabena. Curiosity stems at the root of our experience and helps us to wonder what things we will discover about life when we stay open to wonder and open to opportunity.

We long to discover the truth the world has to offer.

We are just a few weeks out from Easter Sunday, and it’s the time when we often hear the story of the famous “Doubting Thomas.”

I’ve often wondered how Thomas would have felt about such a moniker. Would that have been his view of the story?

In John, chapter 20, we catch a glimpse of the story of Thomas: “Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’

“But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’

“A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’

“Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20:24-29, NIV)

Thomas’ story plumbs the depths of human experience. We want to see and experience things firsthand. Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.

“I want to see it for myself,” proclaimed Thomas.

Our Holy Curiosities invite us to look for the truth of the world around us. As I was reflecting on Thomas this week and watching the life around this beautiful town. I couldn’t help but think how much further we would go if we looked for the truth in others.

How would the world look if we dared to stay curious about our neighbors and our community? What might God be inviting us into as we learn, wonder and grow alongside people we don’t know, or the person we might disagree with?

If we dare to take a risk in seeing the truth around us, and witnessing the life of Christ in others, we have an opportunity to see others as Christ sees us. Full of new life, full of wonder and full of beauty. May we learn to stay filled with Holy Curiosity.

Jeremy Hallquist is pastor of American Lutheran Church, Worthington.