Curiosity and Poor Eyesight

I received a text on Easter that said, “He is risen (probably),” and I haven’t stopped laughing about it. That tongue-in-cheek phrase captured something I think a lot of us feel—especially those of us who care deeply about faith and yet have our doubts. In the latest episode of Cabernet and Pray, I explore what it looks like to walk with God when clarity feels just out of reach.

I unpack a quote by Bernard de Fontenelle: “All philosophy is based on two things only—curiosity and poor eyesight.” That’s true of theology, too. If we could see God clearly, we wouldn’t need faith. But because we can’t, curiosity becomes our greatest tool.

I looked at this idea through Jesus' own life. In Luke 2, Jesus—at just 12 years old—is sitting in the temple asking questions, not preaching, not proclaiming. Asking. Even the divine starts with curiosity.

We see another example in Acts 17, where the people of Berea are praised for their open-mindedness (in contrast to other churches). That same posture of exploration over certainty gets lost in many church spaces today. Many prefer answers over questions, clarity over mystery, and control over wonder. But Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:12 that “we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror.” That means even our best theology is still blurry.

The danger isn’t in having doubts. It’s in pretending we don’t. The Dunning-Kruger Effect shows us that the least competent among us are often the most confident. Certainty sells, but curiosity changes us.

So here’s your invitation: Don’t hide your questions. Name them. Write them down. Sit with them. Let curiosity be your companion in faith, not your enemy. Above all, keep Jesus at the center because the clearest glimpse we ever get of God is through Him.

As Carl Sagan once wrote: “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” That sounds to me like an invitation to experience more of God.

Click here to watch or listen to the episode.