Overload

Knowledge is power.

I really believe that. Of course, the problem with that concept is that it doesn’t really explain much.  For to have power – what does that mean?  How is power meant to be exercised?  That is why, slowly but surely, I am learning that the pursuit of knowledge in itself is a futile exercise.  Indeed it is such a pursuit that gets people into a lot of trouble, for really that pursuit for power can lead to instability as the power ‘goes to our heads’ and we end up all confuddled and bemuddled.

I realise that especially after considering the information explosion that has taken place with the rise of technology like the Internet.  What a beautiful resource.  Just like television and radio before it and the printed press before that here was a communicative tool that is able to be used for the best of all concerned.  Unsurprisingly with us humans, it is also a tool to be used to express the worst in us.  The tool is not the problem, the use of the tool and the ends thereof provide the problem.

So we find ourselves in a predicament where especially in the Western world people are exposed to more information than any other generation before them.  At the click of a button you can gain information on almost anything from how to read the Bible, to how to boil an egg, to arranging holiday destinations in Kazakhstan and writing poetry in Mandarin.  It is apparent that just because we are exposed to know more, it does not necessarily mean we are better people or even have the capacity to take on more than we did before.  You can sometimes start to wonder what will all this information do to help me live a better life.  Then once that question is asked we can move on from pursuing power to pursuing wisdom.

I mention all that because recently I was reflecting on Google Reader.  What a wonderful concept that is.  Rather than going to every blog or website to find out what’s new, I can have it all centralised.  The problem with that is that if you’re not careful (as I wasn’t) you amass a whole heap of websites that you monitor and on the surface you’re well informed.  From religion to politics, sport to the media it’s all there updated almost on a minutely basis as new information and new angles on information come to light.  On the surface this is a good thing.  Beneath the surface this is a bad thing as it can lead to overload.  The realisation that there are only a finite amount of space in the brain to take on a finite amount of of information to use in a finite way.  The point of information is to enable us to use it in some way or it’s a waste of time.  Subsequently I had a clear out and made clinical decisions to cut sites that used to be favourites but now either barely refresh themselves or are no longer needed to clog up the finite space.

That is not just a principle for Google Reader or net usage.  When you consider what you use your time consuming there is a very real likelihood that you’re already living in an overload zone. Too many things on the go, too many issues to grapple in your minid with too many competing factors demanding attention and draining your physical, mental and spiritual resources.  When that happens – and when you’re made aware of it (a good sign is if you find yourself getting tired and short-tempered too easily) then it’s time to get clinical and cut some things off.  This is why the pursuit of wisdom is supreme.  As we pursue God’s ways we can let go of what appears to be important, for indeed all that glitters is not gold.  Even if it was gold what’s the point in having it if you cannot spend it!

It is also an explanation for the purposes of rest and reflection for in those golden opportunities we can actually realise the world will carry on without us, people, things and relationships can still exist without us.  Therefore that which should remain precious and what we should cling onto the most is the onlly thing of value – our relationship with God.  Everything else we should be able to cut off in our pursuit of Him and His way.  Hopefully that should stop us from getting overloaded.

Knowledge maybe power, but only God’s wisdom leads to enjoying the fullness of life.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd