I owe you one?

Nicholas Carr once said:

We're beginning to process information as if we're nodes; it's all about the speed of locating and reading data. We're transferring our intelligence into the machine, and the machine is transferring its way of thinking into us.

I agree completely. Who needs to memorize stuff these days when we can keep it on an Internet linked device - to be accessed whenever, wherever we are. The switch to the "data cloud" has begun ... I speak Google, do you?


The weird thing is that because I can access almost all the digital information that exists I expect to be able to know lots of things I don't have the capacity to know. Almost every time my kids have a weird set of symptoms that don't fall under the category of "cold" or "flu" I have entered them into a search string and come up with a diagnosis to take with me to the doctor. Doesn't make me a doctor though, and fortunately for my kids I still take the doctor's advice even when it varies from the course of action recommended on a "medsite"..

I think this global access to information has carried over to my human relationships. I want to know why "she" said what she said, or did what she did. I want to understand a person's motivations and I feel compelled to explain my own.

Do I have to know? Do you have to know? Shall I explain my every action and then expect you to explain yours? Do I owe you? I think this is the first year in several years that Phillip hasn't guessed his Christmas present. I'm a terrible secret keeper because I am the product of an instant gratification generation that has been given the perception that they have all access to everything they could want and yet are miserable because of it. (it is always less than gratifying if ask him to open a gift early or drop so many hints he can't help but guess correctly)

I can't know everything, I don't want to either, but I do think I need to keep that in mind more often. I can't know your motives, I don't need to explain my own. There is only one lawgiver and judge after all and so I submit myself to His wisdom and accept my finite inability to figure everything out, especially now as I proof read this post, scratch my head and wonder, "What am I even talking about?"

James 3:13,17

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.