MERCY · Idea Lab

One story. Many lenses.

Pick a way of looking at the story. Then connect it to another field, ask a better question and make something of your own.

Choose a lens

What do you notice?

Tap a lens to reveal a prompt. Try two and see how your view changes.

Pick one moment. What happened first, what changed, and what did the character learn?

Try a polymathic mini-project

Sketch a plant. Label roots, light and new leaves with the people, habits and ideas that help someone grow.

Compare a person and an intelligent machine. What can each do? What evidence would help us understand what each experiences?

Map the helpers and opportunities in a character’s life. Which kinds of support are easy to see, and which might be hidden?

A curious reader’s toolkit

Point to a detail in the story before jumping to a conclusion.

Write a question that begins with “How might…?” or “What would we need to know?”

Separate story events, scriptural wording, evidence, and your interpretation.

Use two subjects to examine one idea. Notice where their questions differ.

Speak, write, draw, listen, or pass. No personal story is required. Curiosity should feel welcoming and safe.