Today, with our access to almost instant intelligence, we’re drowning in information, but starving for knowledge. We know a lot, or think we do, but at the end of the day, we are learning very little.
At some point, someone decided that we needed more technology — faster and smaller computers and even greater access to virtually unlimited details and factoids. As this access became available with tablets, smartphones and smartwatches, that apparently still wasn’t enough. So, “they” decided that we didn’t just need instant access to virtually everything, but we the people needed to be a part of it — we needed human integration into technology and vice versa and they wanted every lay person near and far to be able to add information, facts and tidbits into this dark, vast void of information…no matter how questionable.
Information quickly became the new ultimate power and the the elites who manipulated it, quickly became obscenely wealthy. Their big lie was that this new technology would open up the knowledge base to all and that it would end wars, hunger, sickness and all sorts of terrible things…only it didn’t and in some way, it even made things worse.
Bob Moorehead’s “The Paradox of Our Time” is a brilliant insight into the world we’ve created for ourselves and how, despite many claiming otherwise, we may not really have improved all that much.
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.
– Bob Morehead
How can we have so much information and knowledge at our fingertips, yet still be starving for reliable, unbiased facts? How can we have the ability to send an instant message to friends and family, yet still feel lonely and disconnected? How is it possible that we can see all the great vacation photos from our “friends,” yet still know very little about them? And how powerful and convenient are our “smart” devices, if every time we go to use them, they’re re-booting or updating or hung up as some random app developer determines that you need an update?
The hard truth is, technology hasn’t made things better, but has in many ways, made them more complicated, confusing and frustrating. Has it improved some aspects of life? Absolutely it has and there is no denying that. But people were dragged into the technological revolution and now spend an inordinate amount of time with their heads buried in a smart phone and life is literally passing them by. I like Bob Moorhead’s piece because it rings so true — with so many advancements and improvements, why on earth are we going backwards on so many fronts? Why are we less happy, more stressed, less content and more aggravated?
I worry that we are losing our ability to love, care and be civil to people. I’m worried that we’re running around so manically, that we’re literally missing out on life itself…I though all of these technological “miracles” were supposed to enable us to actually live and thrive in life? Well, I guess not……….
I love this Bible passage because it shows us that we’re meant to be happy, hopeful and inspired — it shows us that our minds should always be focused on the good, positive and the happy…
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8
