Staying Afloat

I read a quote a couple of weeks ago that was very interesting. It popped up in my news feed again today. I think it’s only appropriate that we discuss it.

“We are drowning in information while starving for wisdom”

– Unknown

This statement is so true. We have all of this knowledge at our fingertips. We can search anything in Google or Bing. There are a plethora of informational videos on You Tube. We can find almost anything we need in a matter of seconds. I just did this yesterday. 

A fellow commenter and I were having a discussion regarding the Civil War. I had to check my facts (to make sure I was right of course). So, I did a quick Google search, found what looked like a reputable website and began to read. The information I needed was a keystroke away.

I would venture to say plenty of people do what I did. Whether it’s for actual desire to know or wanting to defend your position, we have the tools to research and we use then accordingly. That’s what that are there for, right? Wanting to be knowledgeable is not a bad thing at all. It begs one question. 

What are you doing with your knowledge?

The back part of defending your position is having the wisdom to know how to use the information. In my example, we both were right in our assertions. Being that this is the internet, that conversation was waiting to blow up into a name-calling fiasco reminiscent of grade school kids. In fact, this person already told me I am a “brainwashed, uneducated, ignorant bigot.” Now, I could have dove for the deep end of the insulting abyss that is the internet, but why do that? That’s not who I am. That’s not who Jesus called me to be. I simply told him I wanted to have a serious discussion and he wasn’t adding anything to it. 

Wisdom is treating people right. Someone is always watching how we interact with others. Wisdom is knowing how to entreat people. Are you kind even when you’re angry? It’s having an understanding that we don’t know everything. Do you feign yourself to always be right?

As my grandfather says, “Wisdom dictates.” That means wisdom should govern out actions, thoughts, and words. All of this information we have, and we’re drowning because we don’t use wisdom in how we treat our brother.

Are you staying afloat?