Curious Power

In his senior year of high school, my son Barnaby told me he planned to go to Madrid for his first year of college. I forgot that I spent almost a year in Spain in my 20’s. Why?!? I gasped in motherly horror thinking only of the distance.

I decided to take your advice, he replied. I think this was a first. What did I say? I asked in pretty much the same voice.

He answered. You told me that any time I didn’t know what to do I should follow my intense curiosity and I would always be alright. I want to learn Spanish, Mom. I can almost taste fluency.

Well the kid is truly fluent and I’m still thinking about that advice. Curiosity is my favorite form of desire. It may be the most powerful form of all. Unconscious curiosity works just as well as conscious curiosity though.

Last Sunday, I packed up to head down the mountain to the desert after a lovely weekend at my wee cabin on a creek. My exasperated neighbor came over to chat about his woes. He ended a good long list with the news that both of his computers were down and it would take a week to get them fixed. We laughed about how dependent we had become. Wow, I thought with a strong blast of curiosity, I wonder what it would be like to go a whole week without my computer. I got in the car and drove away.

All the way down the twists and turns I had the feeling I had forgotten something besides the vegetables in the fridge, something important.

Day three without my computer is going well. I assume it’s still sitting on the desk. I’m writing this on a borrowed laptop feeling very free. It’s like a vacation from my stuff.

All sorts of wonderful experiences I want to taste, feel, explore, enjoy flood my awareness. Paying a bit more attention this time! Devoting some conscious thought to my intense curiosity.

Without my notes, the old fliers and formats, in the final planning stages of the next BREAKOUT to Miracles Weekend, I notice and nurture my intense curiosity. A new sponsor will produce the course. A new location, a new country. I wonder who will come. What miracles and adventures will we share? How will we touch each other’s lives? With a tingle of excitement I dare to wonder, what if it fills up immediately, is a huge success for everyone involved, benefits all of the participants for the rest of their lives in miraculous ways? What if there is a big old waiting list?

Any time you don’t know what to do, follow your intense curiosity! It’s a wonderful, powerful form of desire. Pay attention to your curiosity. Nurture it. Please let us know where it leads you by posting a comment.

PS. I hope I've piqued your curiosity about the next Breakout to Miracles Weekend. Announcement coming soon.