Curiosity, Creativity, & Courage

A Beautiful Triad in Character

soft pastel “Unstoppable Hope” by Myra Alibrando

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Realities without many names or no names, still real. Worth a quick listen. Hit play.

Natural as Children, A Choice for Adults

Curiosity, creativity, and courage is a beautiful triad in any person or family. These can be natural qualities that bear additional fruits, but for most adults, it a choice worth fighting for.

Curiosity

Curiosity is the best motivator of honesty and learning, because it is obsessed with knowing what is really true. It is key for the best researchers, students, scientists, detectives, theologians, and philosophers. Curiosity is pure honesty seeking answers. When curiosity motivates, compromise is not an option. For example: “What can you do if you really try?”

Jesus said, the truth shall make you free in John 8:32.

Creativity

Creativity is normal for children but surrendered by most adults as something reserved for artists. Creativity welcomes change, if something can be better. Laziness avoids change. Fear avoids change.  Inventions replace traditions that are counter productive. Creativity keeps life fresh and alive and is usually an attitude of play. For every song you have ever heard, there are 10 million you will never hear. We are little creators.

Creativity always seeks to create or improve because it grants permission to do so. We are made in the image of our Creator. We marvel at the inventive ability God gave man we see throughout the world. God never intended obedience to replace creativity, but rather obedience to enhance creativity.  

Courage

Courage is required . . . always. Cowardice will ruin everything always. Whatever you practice becomes habitual; courage or cowardice. Cowardice will squash both curiosity and creativity. Cowardice has the boring agenda of avoiding risk, avoiding change, avoiding confrontation. Courage is required to overcome fear of failure, fear of criticism, and uncertainty. Life is uncertain.

Cowardice is top of the list for those who will not enter the kingdom.

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8.

Courage is absolutely required for character building, and God has great plans for building your character for a greater you in greater relationships. 

You can create more love and more wisdom in the world if you are willing to make mistakes and be criticized. Are you willing? Itis your life, your song, your legacy.

Daniel: Captive Exile to High Office

In the book of Daniel, a boy was exiled to a foreign land after his nation was conquered. He would not give up His God, yet flexible enough to flourish in Babylon. Daniel not only served God without compromise, but in peaceful, diplomatic ways requiring courage and earning favor. Impressively, as a captured foreigner in Babylon, the day arrived when the world conqueror,  Nebuchadnezzar himself, got down on his face before Daniel (Daniel 2:46). Because of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar declared Daniel's God "the God of gods"

The exiled prisoner, now grown, was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, as ruler of the whole province of Babylon (Daniel 2:48).

What Should I Do Now?

There was no training manual on how to adapt to his situation his entire life, yet Daniel was creative and courageous despite being from another culture, language, and lowly estate. Creatively calculating new ways to walk in his faith, I wonder how many times did Daniel pray “What should I do now, Lord?”

Years passed. Nebuchadnezzar died. His successor never met Daniel until one night Daniel was called to explain a mystery. Within minutes, that king proclaimed Daniel the third highest ruler in the kingdom (Daniel 5:29). Within hours, that king was killed, and Babylon was completely conquered by the Mede-Persians.

Babylon Conquered, but Not Daniel

Instead of being banished, imprisoned, or killed by the conquering enemy; Daniel was given a position along with 2 others, to look out for the interests of the new conqueror. Daniel, at 62, began service in a totally new regime with a new language and new rules. Daniel proved himself so well, the king made plans to "place Daniel over the entire empire"!!! Daniel 6:3

Who is this guy? How did Daniel win so much favor to be given authority over all the foreign subjects by their own king? Not once, but twice in his lifetime. by two warring, separate empires? 

Kill the Outsider

Naturally, some Mede-Persians who had their own political aspirations, were jealous and plotted to bring Daniel down. The king was tricked into punishing Daniel. He didn't want to do it. This becomes the famous story of Daniel in the lion's den.

As amazing as the lions not eating Daniel, is the fact that the Mede-Persian King Darius had so much affection for Daniel, he could not sleep all night worrying about him, and was overjoyed that Daniel survived the night. The jealous politicians were tossed to the lions and torn apart, along with their wives and children.

Whom Daniel Served, They Saw God

Daniel, with God’s grace, had a way with people without threatening them while winning favor for his God. King Darius made a public declaration after the lion's den incident:

"I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For his is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end." Daniel 6:26

Courageous, creative flexibility gave an exiled boy an amazing life in a foreign land. Are you curious what God can do with yours?

You can find inspiration and encouragement from past devotionals on samueljalibrando.substack.com. You don't need to subscribe to access, just click “no” if asked. Then see 14 Devotionals. Scroll down to "See All". You may discover something uplifting.

Have a great week.