Peekaboo Faith: What a Burnt Bagel Taught Me About Curiosity, Mindfulness & Grace

by Courtenay Smith Brown | August 2025

Welcome to Peekaboo Faith

Some of you already know that Peekaboo Faith is actually the title of a book I started writing years ago—five, to be exact. It was meant to be birthed into the world long before now, but life had other plans. And so, I am beginning instead with this blog. It's a quieter offering, for now. This blog will be a sacred space where I can tell my story, share reflections from the mat, from my heart, and from the beautifully unpredictable rhythm of daily life.

My prayer is that this blog becomes a practice—one that helps us all observe our lives with more curiosity, more grace, and deeper faith. That we’ll begin to see our yoga practice not just as something we do on the mat, but something we live—a way of being that shapes how we love, lead, respond, and heal.

And maybe, just maybe, this blog will grow back into the book it was always meant to be. If that happens, I’ll say what I always do when life surprises me in beautiful ways: Yay God.

But for now, this story begins with the gift of a burnt bagel.

The Bagel, the Smoke, and the Lesson

Last Wednesday morning, while visiting my mother in South Carolina, I was multitasking (which, if you know me, you know is often how my days begin—and also a recipe for mild chaos). I was texting, preparing for my weekly Sacred Sangha business growth call, making coffee, shuffling my oracle cards (yes, I love Jesus and pull cards), and mentally rehearsing a conversation I was dreading. In the middle of it all, I popped a bagel in the toaster and then… completely forgot about it.

The smell hit me first. Then the smoke.

By the time I rescued the bagel, it looked… tragic. My first instinct was to throw it away. But we only had three bagels left, and something about wasting it didn’t sit right with me.

So I paused. I took a breath. And I got curious. I added a little cream cheese, whispered a prayer over it, and took a cautious bite.

It was delicious. Crispy, chewy, warm—comforting in the way only a good bagel can be. I’m a native New Yorker, so trust me: I know a good bagel. And this one, despite its blackened edges, still delivered. Maybe even more than usual.

Faith Beneath the Surface

That moment made me think: How many things have I labeled as ruined before giving them a chance? How often do we discard people, dreams, or opportunities because they don’t look the way we expect? How much beauty do we miss because we’re too distracted to notice?

Truthfully? I’ve been distracted for at least eight years—caught up in proving, performing, and pushing forward. I shudder to think about what I may have missed during that time.

Be Curious

This month at Shabach Yoga Studio, our theme is Be Curious.

Curiosity is more than just asking questions. It’s a way of being. A willingness to stay open. Open to what’s imperfect. Open to what didn’t go as planned. Open to the idea that the burnt bagel, the canceled plan, the hard yoga class, or the awkward conversation might actually hold something sacred.

Peekaboo Faith is believing that something holy is always peeking through—even when it's hidden behind smoke, fear, or doubt.

Sometimes, we just have to slow down enough to see it.

This Month's Invitation

So during the month of August, I invite you to lean in with me and

• Pause before tossing out what looks broken.

• Get curious about what you thought was ruined.

• Stay open to surprises.

• Look for the lesson.

Because you just might discover that something you almost threw away… is exactly what you needed.

And when that happens?

Yay God.

Want to Practice Curiosity and Faith in Community?

Looking for a yoga community that blends faith, mindfulness, and healing?

Come Flow with us at Shabach Yoga Studio in Waldorf, MD.

Whether you’re just starting your yoga journey or deepening your practice, you’ll find a supportive, welcoming space to move, breathe, pray, and grow. Let’s walk this path together.

Step into the river. You belong here.