Conditional Curiosity

I’ve always been fascinated with the power of non-verbal communication and the impetus driving it; the facial expressions and body language that convey volumes without a peep. Passion, elation, frustration and every other ‘shun under the sun — effortlessly conveyed and easily understood (usually), in spite of cultural or language differences.

I believe I’ve witnessed and studied just about every possible non-verbal expression known to mankind in the years I spent slinging drinks, waiting tables and stumbling around the planet chasing my dreams; fostering an intuitive sense of an unwritten language that’s served me well in relating, understanding and serving others.

What I’ve discovered is most people are incapable of fully hiding what they’re truly feeling -outside of the occasional poker game- likening their expressions and reactions to a true reflection of their inner substance. A picture of the soul and what drives it, if you will, played out on the ever-changing canvas of the body and face. It is the most recent unspoken messages I’m getting from those around me that leave me somewhat disenchanted - but at the same time cautiously optimistic.

When I say “Angel’s are real” what is your first reaction?  Be honest.  Disbelief? Agreement? Indifference? Perhaps a personal faith or belief leads you into accepting this aspect of the unseen as true, or maybe curiosity impels the non-believer to seek out what they can to disprove the statement. Irregardless, we all possess innate convictions about what we can or cannot prove to be true, but nevertheless believe.

What about “Demons and ghosts are real”? Same reaction? Perhaps you partially agree with the ghosts being real, but haven’t yet made up your mind on demons - or maybe you’d simply rather not contemplate it at all.  It’s beyond the comfort zone of tangible things we build our beliefs and convictions upon, and our feelings about it are written clearly in our expressions.  We can’t overwhelmingly prove their existence one way or another - but it doesn’t and shouldn’t stifle curiosity.

Try reading this one aloud while looking in a mirror. “UFO’s are real and species of unknown origin have been visiting earth for centuries.”  How many of you laughed out loud? Again, be honest. Seems to put a strain on acceptable credulity a bit, doesn’t it? 

How many of you had visions of doomsday geeks in tin-foil hats and paranoid conspiracy theorists muttering to themselves? Sadly, we seem more than willing to coax our conscious minds into blindly accepting a belief in angels, demons or ghosts - but the very thought of E.T. and flying saucers seems WAY too much for us to handle; therefore we dismiss it as hokum and shelve it in that distant part of our mind reserved for Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

“Charlatans, shysters and snake-oil salesman!” we cry - and not entirely without cause- the UFO community is full of clever con-men out to fleece and deceive those who dare to be curious — although I’d gladly bet a years wages on formal religion having spawned exponentially more con-men than the entire UFO community has yet to amass in believers. Harsh, but all too true. It’s our own lack of acceptance and tolerance for a legitimate, scholarly pursuit of this phenomenon that cultivates a field ripe for the con-men to shape; instead of those who would rightfully pursue whatever truth may come to light.

Let’s not keep curiosity confined to a box limited in size by our own understanding.  If that were the case then the earth would still be flat as the universe continued to revolve around us. I challenge you to transform your thoughts and expressions from incredulity, dismissal and fear to one of wonder, curiosity - or at the very least, a token acceptance.  Life often throws things at us that challenge our belief structures and comfort zones, for good and bad; but a rightful pursuit of truth is a whole lot easier when surrounded by open minds.

Be nice to us geeks that look to the skies a little more often than others.  And let it show on your face. We’re not crazy - just curious.