Three Powerful Questions

Unsplash: Edward Lawrence

As you might know, I'm an avid nature-lover and nature-journaler (check out this post if you want to learn more). It is a practice that I came across in our homeschooling journey, and one that I still enjoy, even as my children are in high school and college. Sometimes, my nature journal looks more like a quick entry into a notebook and a printed sticky photo beside it, instead of a hand-drawn illustration, but it is a way I love to document the natural world and how it changes throughout the year. Often, my entries include new-to-me plants, flowers, and insects; other times, it simply records the first snowfall of the year or the first firefly of the summer (which was yesterday in our parts!)

The Naturalist's Notebook by Nathaniel T. Wheelwright

Through nature journaling, I've learned to ask three questions, thanks to the instruction of naturalist author and teacher John Muir Laws.

These questions are:

1. "I notice..."
2. "I wonder..."
3. "It reminds me of..."

Question #1 helps me to slow down and observe the detail of what I am seeing. I notice its color, texture, shape, or behavior. These unfiltered observations can be quickly jotted in a notebook.

Question #2 transforms these simple observations into active curiosity and inquiry. It helps me to generate questions about the subject's purpose, how it might work, or why a certain characteristic I am noticing might exist.

Question #3 exists to build connections between what I am seeing and the information I already know. It helps me to uncover patterns, identify metaphors, and ultimately serves to deepen my memory and understanding of what I am seeing.

I recently reflected upon the power of these three questions when I study God's Word, as well.  After reading a Bible passage, it helps me to slow down and just notice the surface details such as who is doing the speaking, where the action is happening, what exactly is going on or being said. I can ask myself: what do I notice in this passage?

Next, I endeavor to ask the second question, I wonder..., and apply it to the passage. Is there a cultural context I am unfamiliar with and might not be clear about? (If so, I highly recommend the IVP Bible Background Commentary as a helpful resource) or maybe I jot down a few questions to ask my pastor or think further about on my own.

Third, I consider the question This reminds me of...and I attempt to make connections between this passage of Scripture and things I know about our world or with other places in Scripture. For example, I recently read a passage in Jeremiah (see below) and it reminded me of a similar passage I had read a few years ago in Ezekiel:

“Your words were found, and I ate them,

    and your words became to me a joy

    and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by your name,

    O Lord, God of hosts."             —Jeremiah 15:16

 

"And he said to me, 'Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.' So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, 'Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.’ Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey."                —Ezekiel 3:1-3

By considering these passages together, it got me thinking further about what it means to "eat" God's Word, in contrast to "reading" or "studying" it, which are the verbs I typically use when I think of my interaction with God's Word (see this previous blog post to learn more about "tasting" God's Word).

And I didn't use the word "last" when I got to question #3 because these questions serve as a gateway to more questions, questions that might involve asking God what He would have me do that day, or whether there is a sin I should confess, or if there's a person He wants me to reach out to...you get the idea. As always, Bible study leads us to a greater end: worship (praising God for who He is), prayer (conversing with God about what we learn and confessing sin), and application of His Word in our lives (a daily, sometimes slow-going process as we become more like Christ through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit). 

Three powerful questions.

Three powerful ways we can dig into God's Word to better understand it and see how it relates to our daily modern lives.

I pray that we would not only see the wonder of the natural world around us this summer, but that we would grow in our knowledge and curiosity of God's Word, too, dear friend. I trust these questions will help us both to notice, to wonder, and to make connections, all to the glory of God and for our ultimate good.