It's Good to Be Curious

One thing my wife is, is very curious.  She turned me onto this video of Mr. Rogers song "Garden of Your Mind" which has been remixed and is very cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFzXaFbxDcM

Fred Rogers, who was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1963 had a calling to teach and educate young children.  And he was very good at it.  Rogers helped expand Public Television programs for children due to his appearance before a United States Senate Subcommittee on education in 1969.

What Mr. Rogers did for children, we need for adults.  We, as adults, should be curious about other people and other things.  We should be curious about science, art, literature, politics, religion and society in general.  But, as a society and the richest one in the world for that matter, we are ignorant of other people, societies, science, art, literature and we think we know everything about politics and religion.  As long as it is "our politics" and "our religion" because that is all we "need to know".  Henceforth, our ignorant, arrogant American culture.

I think one thing that God would like us to do is use our brain.  Why should we listen or watch TV with ignoramus blowhards telling us Global Warming isn't real when the polar ice caps are melting?  And when most credible scientists have proven such?  It makes many feel good that they believe their ignorance makes them smarter than pointy headed nerds who actually have the knowledge, data and the ability to understand such things.  Bury your head in the sand and you won't see the tidal wave when it is coming to hit you.

Most people in American society couldn't hold a 5 minute discussion on literature or art.  They may be able to hold a conversation longer than 5 minutes on music, but probably only a certain style of music--not more than one genre.  I remember when I lived in Europe, the cab drivers were talking with us about the latest Eugene Ionesco plays.  If you ask most Americans who Eugene Ionesco is, they have no clue.

I won't take up too much time on politics, because many Americans don't understand the issues and many more have been misled on the issues, yet they will act as "experts" and transform into mad screamers when you disagree or ask them questions on their opinions.

We should, along with Paul, think about such things--from Phillipians 4:4-9--

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

God would like us to consider "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."


When we go to Church on Sunday (or any other day of the week for that matter) and then clock out when it comes to the world, the world the God created and just focus on our arrogant ignorances--which is a horrible combination to have--we do ourselves, our neighbors, our country and our God a disservice.  We put up walls of shallowness and hatred, we drive people away and that is something Jesus wouldn't do.