The world has changed so much in my own lifetime when it comes to accessing information and gaining knowledge. I was telling my kids the other day that there was a time, in the not so distant past, when the only way to know what was happening in the world was to wait for the evening news on tv, read it in a newspaper the next day, or happen to catch an update on the radio. Miss the news broadcast, the paper delivery, or the radio transmission, and one could be blissfully unaware of almost anything happening outside of the neighbourhood. There were also things called encyclopedias that held all sorts of wonderful information as long as you were ok working with data that was always a couple of years old by the time you had the chance to read it.
As you well know, this is not the case anymore. The information and knowledge that we literally hold in the palms of our hands now is greater than any other time in human history. We have ‘as-it-happens’ access to any story, incident, disaster, conflict, or cultural moment that we happen to have interest in. Without delay we can google it, Wikipedia it, or find an up to second feed on one of many social media platforms. If knowledge is power, then we’ve probably been given more power than we know what to do with.
Ecclesiastes reveals that the pursuit of knowledge as a way to find meaning and stability in life is like chasing after the wind and that with more knowledge comes more grief. This is not to be understood as being a position of anti-education, anti-learning, or anti-intelligence. It is, however, a warning about being puffed by how much we know and counting on our intellect to give us the foundation of purpose in our lives.
For this season of Lent, we have the opportunity to boundary the constant inundation of more information and create more space to quiet our hearts in the presence of God.
READ
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
REFLECT
What are my human limits when it comes to pursuing knowledge?
How has the pursuit of knowledge taken the place of God in my life?
What meaning have I been deriving from knowledge?
RESPOND
As you say aloud these confessions, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal barriers to surrender.
I confess that I am human and that I have limits.
I confess the ways that I have been chasing after a vapour.
I confess that you are God and I am not.
FAST
As a way of living into your confessions, consider fasting from reading or watching your go-to news source this week.
RECEIVE
Read Ecclesiastes 3:11-13.
Psalm 23 tells us that God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, even death itself. He gives good gifts to his children.
Ask the Spirit to reveal what God wants to set your Table with.