Holy Curiosity

HOLY CURIOSITY

Not everyone has a good grip of science. But these children's
scientific musings at least show a healthy dose of creativity.

To explain nuclear reactions, one young scientist said, "When they
broke open molecules, the found they were only stuffed with atoms.
But when they broke open atoms, they found them stuffed with
explosions."

Concerning astronomy, one child said, "Most books now say our sun is
a star. But it still knows how to change back into a sun in the
daytime." And another added, "Some people can tell what time it is
by looking at the sun. But I have never been able to make out the
numbers."

"Evaporation gets blamed for a lot of things people forget to put
the top on," said a young physics student.

 "H2O is hot water, and CO2 is cold water," a young chemist said.
Another student offered this advice: "To collect fumes of sulfur,
hold a deacon over a flame in a test tube." (Ouch.)

"Rain is often known as soft water, oppositely known as hail,"
reported a budding meteorologist. Another added, "Thunder is a rich
source of loudness."

These young people are just starting a path of life-long learning,
and I applaud their efforts to learn more about the universe.
Scientific illiteracy will not serve us well in the 21st Century.

But I wonder, as they learn more and their grasp on science becomes
firmer, will they still feel awe when they see a falling star? Even
if they are able to describe a rainbow in scientific terms, will
they still be amazed at its incomparable beauty? I hope so.

And what about matters of the heart and the spirit? Not everything
we experience can be measured. How does one measure love and beauty
and faith? I wonder if today's children will also nurture their
hearts as they nurture their minds.

I am not one who feels that a scientific mindset and a spiritual
outlook are incompatible. I appreciate Albert Einstein's thoughts on
the merging of the spirit and science. He called scientific
curiosity "holy." The physicist said, "The most beautiful and most
profound experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the
sower of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger,
who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead."

I love science, and I want to learn as much as I can. But as I do, I
still want to wonder and stand rapt in awe before the splendor of
life and the universe. This is a place of holy curiosity; a place
where spirit and science merge. And it's a place where my soul can
be at rest.
__________

Steve Goodier [email protected] is a professional
speaker, consultant and author of numerous books. Visit his site for
more information, or to sign up for his FREE newsletter of Life,
Love and Laughter at http://LifeSupportSystem.com<http://lifesupportsystem.com/>