The Benefits of an Ever-curious Mind
"One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates
the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure
of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a
little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity."
Albert Einstein
Recently, I was enjoying lunchtime under the ancient apple trees at Maine Audubon's Gilsland Farm center with a few of our shamanic journey workshop students. The afternoon was breezy and sunny--the kind of day when you can really relish the outdoors and all its beauty. All around us the bees, birds, squirrels and ground hogs were busy with their summer chores and a small knot of children were exploring the edge of the woods.
While listening to two people engage in a conversation, I became distracted by a bit of movement that I caught with the corner of my eye. I trained my focus on the spot and saw something I couldn't identify moving through the grass. Blessed as I am with a rather insatiable curiosity, I got up and walked quietly over to the spot.
There I saw an insect about an inch and a half long carrying a green object as long as its own body. I watched this unidentified creature scurry along on the sandy places between the tufts of grass. I called over a few of my lunch mates and together we watched the insect's activity. The creature eventually set the green thing which I though might have been a blade of grass down. Turns out it had been carting around a hairless, green caterpillar.
At once, the insect began digging like a dog in the soil! Front legs furiously moving, it tossed aside tiny stones and sand until it uncovered a tiny opening in the ground. The insect then picked up the caterpillar and began stuffing it down the hole. Once it was satisfied about how well the caterpillar was tucked into the burrow, it began recovering the opening. Just like a dog, it turned its back on the hole and began scuffing sand behind it. Upon completing its task the creature flew off.
Photo: © Lewis Scharpf
Once I got back to the house, I did a little research on our lunchtime's entertainment. As it turns out, we had been watching a Thread-Waisted Wasp of the Ammophila species. The adult insects feed upon nectar like honeybees and hummingbirds. This particular insect was a female. In the burrow, the egg she laid there would soon hatch and the caterpillar she brought would be a feast for her child.
I'm retelling this story now as it was a moment of wonder and reconnection for me. Even minutes spent watching such a small drama unfold in the natural world is worth hours of nature television! This story unfolded right there beneath our feet. In taking the time to investigate, we had the opportunity to witness a natural spectacle. Instead of just looking at a screen we were able to feel the breeze, muse about what we were seeing, and interact with each other and the environment. We enjoyed a discovery together and left richer for the experience.
Like children, we stood riveted by something small in nature and it felt delicious! More importantly, by being curious about the activity of this insect, we connected to each other and to the landscape. The natural world holds great healing power for us. In nature, we can experience a reduction in anxiety, a renewal of joy and a refreshment of our perspectives.
Take TIME this month and encourage your curiosity about nature. Go for a walk. Sit at the edge of a stream. Keep your eyes and ears open. Ask questions. Wonder. There is something patiently waiting to be discovered. It may well turn out to be a splendid joy inside of yourself!
"Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One
must never, for whatever reason, turn your back on life."
Eleanor Roosevelt
- Evelyn
How have you let your curiosity lead you? Please send your stories of discovering wonders to editors@spiritliving.org
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