“We are now at a point where we must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday, and prepare our schools for what no one knows yet”

– Margaret Mead, 1901-1978, American Cultural Anthropologist

If Margaret Mead thought this back then can you imagine her reaction to all that has changed in the last 30 years and how her statement is even truer today then it was back then.

We do live in amazingly fast time in regards to knowledge. Often it seems that what we learn today is obsolete before we can apply our newly obtained knowledge. This compounds the problem of our antiquated education systems which continue to teach information which often is outdated and of very little practical use in the work a day world.

The interesting thing is that as we accelerate at break neck speeds in knowledge, we labor along in wisdom. Intellectually we may know more, however knowing more does not always give us the keys to wisdom and it does not bring much sustained happiness. What we do know is that as many feel that they are growing in knowledge they also hunger more for wisdom. They hunger to know that which we have removed ourselves from, that which we have hidden from view, that which we have anesthetize ourselves from with the illusion that we will find the answers we seek in our ever increasing knowledge base.

The truth is that many hide behind knowledge because they fear the wisdom, they fear that they will see that there life is an illusion of sorts, a house of cards if you will and to truly know that which intuitively they seek and know would crumble their story. This is why even though so many hunger for wisdom why they don’t take that leap and achieve the wisdom for which they hunger.  Wisdom is both full of elation and it can also be scary because it often forces us to rewrite our story, it often shakes us out of what we feel is comfortable.

Please understand that I love knowledge, I am a knowledge junkie in many ways. I believe knowledge is powerful and our continuous education is very important. With that being said I have met many highly educated people who seem to lack the basic wisdoms of life.

As in all things there must be a balance and to achieve a balance we must live in the present and hone our awareness.

My thought for myself and for all is that we have the courage to be wise and with that wisdom be loving in all of our thoughts, words and actions.

Seek knowledge my friend, for that is part of your purpose here, however do it with wisdom and always apply your wisdom with love!

More from Beliefnet and our partners