Thoughts and Writings from the furnace by Kent Weathersby

Curiosity

Recently, I had the good fortune to catch a bio piece on CBS Sunday Morning: a “magazine” style program featuring articles on pop culture, travel, art, and profiles of interesting people. The subject of the piece was Leonardo Da Vinci. Amazing!

Da Vinci has been described by students of his work as the most curious person to have ever lived. His works include, not only two of the most famous paintings in the world, but lists of things he planned to study; most of which, he did. Though he lived from 1452 to 1519, he envisioned devices and inventions that would not come to life for centuries. Included was a helicopter; he actually created a working version that was used on stage. He envisioned an underwater breathing apparatus, the parachute, and countless other curiosities, such as how a woodpecker’s tongue works. All fueled by his intense curiosity – a curiosity that gave birth to his acute attention to detail.

Details like Judas having knocked over the salt container in Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. When viewing the painting, you can sense the shock that filled the room when Jesus said to His disciples that “One of you will betray me.”

Da Vinci taught himself anatomy so that the subjects of his paintings and drawings would appear more realistic. He described how he believed that the valves of the heart collaborated to pump blood through the human body. Modern medical science is still marveling at his propositions. So ethereal were his talents that the Mona Lisa appears to smile at you as you look away.

Being easily influenced, I resolved to cultivate my own sense of curiosity. I would slow things down and take in the world around me. From that Sunday morning on, I would smell the roses and the coffee and watch the world go by with heightened attention to detail. No spider web, no tattoo, and no clouds the shape of animals went unnoticed.

Not long after, I drove into a gas station to gas-up my wife’s car. It was one of those city block long stations which could feed an infantry division and had 12 two-sided pumps, each of which had the appearance of a Las Vegas slot machine with its windows and buttons. I inserted my credit card, divulged my Zip Code, and watched the numbers roll up to all eights and settle on all zeroes. I wrestled the head of what looked like a Madagascan Tree Boa into the refueling receptacle, locked the handle for full flow, and pressed Start. It was time to “live in the moment.”

I was feeling the cool crisp wind on my face for the first time this winter. Wind that was teasing the gold, red, and orange leaves waving at me from nearby trees. I saw the coral hue forming just above the horizon ushering in what was sure to be a fabulous sunset. Pine needles were fleeing from the manicured landscaping and dancing across the lot in search of an escape route.

Then, I heard a voice from somewhere off to the right. It came from the driver of a car waiting in line to use the air compressor; assumedly to cancel the low tire pressure annunciator on his instrument cluster. “Ma’am,” he said again rather loudly. Even though I’m not a ma’am and should have minded my own business, I looked around to see who he was calling to. There was a young lady in a bulky jacket with tussled curly hair replacing the nozzle back into her side of the gas pump I was using. Apparently, it was her.

It seemed obvious that she did not know the man and therefore ignored his attempts to gain her attention. He then got out of the car and walked toward her. When he got to within several feet of her, I abandoned my fueling operation and was about to say, “Is there a problem here?” when he asked her: “Did you fill the tank?” Her flowing curls dangled from side to side as she shook her head. He then inserted his credit card into her “slot machine”, punched in his Zip Code, and began walking back to his car. She said loudly to his back, “you are going to make me cry”. Without looking back he said, “no need.”

I have given a great deal of thought to this episode, wondering if there is something to learn from it. I was impacted by the drama but I can’t put my finger on its significance for me. Unless, it’s that there is something in this life that has more grandeur, and beauty, than creation. Maybe I should strive more for vigilance than for curiosity.

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”