Information Overload

“We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom.” E.O.Wilson

This quote grabbed my full attention when I saw it last week. The author of these words is an 85 year old biologist from Alabama who watches with interest as research has revealed more and more about how the natural world works. He theorizes that the intense period of growth of discovery 
and knowledge that began in the 1960’s will continue for many more decades. In short, information continues to flood our understanding of things as we dig further, deeper, and wider into the natural world in our understanding. But we aren't necessarily wiser for it. 

In the information-rich culture our students are immersed in, I found myself thinking about the role of wisdom. Perhaps more than their parents or grandparents, student learning needs are less centered on opportunities to be provided with more information, but rather they have a pressing need to have a means by which to connect information meaningfully, sort what is of value, and ultimately what is true and faithful. I’m thankful that this is the kind of wisdom that we endeavor to help our students develop and practice at LCES. 

The original 1962 LCES keystone boldly proclaims that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111:10) The faithful who placed it there could probably not really comprehend the age we live in today, but their choice of that text is as contemporary as ever. Knowledge alone will not fully help the future inventors, scientists, parents, business people, politicians, entrepreneurs, and much more that exist in our student body. 

The potential of knowledge in the hands and mind of someone armed with biblical wisdom – now that’s something that can change the world back to how God intended it. May God bless us in pursuit of that worthwhile goal. SJ