Fizz the cat and curiosity for us too

When I last visited my British grandchildren, they had just added a new family member: Fizz the cat.

She was a pretty kitty with a good deal of patience toward her 3 pint-sized owners. Less than 6 months old, Fizz was still trying to learn household rules and which of her opinions was appreciated, which ones not. Like all kittens, she was curious. One moment she was in the dryer, the next she was running up the curtains.

Late one night as the household slept and I blogged, Fizz expressed keen interest in my laptop. As a matter of fact, she dove at the screen with the force of a bird flying into a windshield. It took me by surprise, and I wondered what had prompted her.

Then I saw it. As my mouse moved the tiny cursor around the screen, she had mistaken it for a big juicy bug, and by instinct went for it. Once I understood that, I let her do it again and again, and she never gave up trying to bag that “bug”.

Feline curiosity is fun to watch. Fizz could get into trouble (think tumbling in a dryer) but generally her curiosity will teach her what she can and can’t do. We could take a lesson.

As children, most of us were as curious as any kitten, pursuing answers to our questions through trial and error. Like Fizz, we sometimes got into trouble, but trouble was a good teacher. As we get older, the edges of our curiosity get worn down, and we walk through life based on what we already know rather than questing after something fresh.

But resurrecting some of that kitty-like curiosity might be a good idea, especially when it comes to living the Christian life. God has lots of fresh blessings for us every day, some of which we don’t experience because we aren’t curious about what they might be and don’t go searching for them. Scripture hints at “new mercy” and “new compassion,” available every single morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

God also says he’s willing to bring a “new song” to us (Psalm 40:3) and put “new spirits and hearts” within us. (Ezekiel 36:26) He offers “new answers” to our prayers (Jeremiah 33:3) and the promise of a “new life” in Christ (Romans 6:4), even a whole “new self.” (Ephesians 4:24) Amazingly, the Lord volunteers to share “new hidden things” that he’d formerly kept secret. (Isaiah 48:6)

A healthy curiosity for the fresh blessings God wants to give should make us leap toward him and his Word with the same fervor Fizz showed toward my moving cursor.