• Home
  • RELIGION IS NOT. . .PART I
  • THE SEARCHER-SEEKER

Searcher-Seeker

Musings of a lifelong searcher-seeker

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« FREEZING OR BURNING TO DEATH ON WORDS. . .
CONSIDER ‘PROPHETS,’ PART I »

THINKING ABOUT – KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION & AWARENESS

January 11, 2022 by Searcher Seeker

Consider, Gentle Reader, that there is a difference between knowledge, information and awareness.  Many years ago my spiritual director noted that ‘one cannot do evil in awareness.’  On the other hand, one can do evil rooted in knowledge or information; one can do evil even when one ‘knows’ that the act is evil.  As a Christian Ecumenist I remind myself of Jesus’ words: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’  They were NOT AWARE of what they were doing.  Consider, if they were AWARE that they were crucifying the Lord of Glory they would never have done so.  As I recall, Jesus also said something like this: ‘The time will come when they will persecute you and they THINK they are dong service to God’ – How often has this been done; how often does it continue to be done by ‘good’ people [I am now taking a deep breath as I choose not to become side-tracked into a rant about the destructive negative political ads put forth by ‘Good Christians’ that at times wash over us like an out of control tsunami].    

We blind ourselves when we have knowledge and information without being awake and aware.  Without awareness it is easy for knowledgeable and informed folks to rationalize the most evil of acts. 

When does our knowledge and information hinder us from becoming aware?  Remember, being aware does not bring comfort; more often than not it brings disturbance.  We have to dehumanize the other(s) in order to shun, in order to marginalize, in order to harm, in order to ignore, and in order to guilt-free kill.  I am thinking of two Christmas Eve incidents – one during WWI and the other, on a smaller scale during WWII.  The combatants actually met and for several hours they ‘got to know one another as human beings.’  They became awake and aware.  Only with threats and interventions from the commanders not present did the fighting resume. 

Now there is a trap here.  There is a belief (common I think) that knowledge and information plus awareness equals change.  Not so.  For years I fought depression.  Then I gained some knowledge and information.  I still fought depression.  Then I gained awareness.  I still fought depression.  I am reminded of the great Chinese sage who said: ‘Before enlightenment I was depressed.  After enlightenment I was depressed.’ 

I experienced less depression when I accepted my depression [I understand that some depression is ‘organically rooted’ and that it can be treated with medication].  That was the paradox for me.  Acceptance of who I am opened the pathway to less depression – knowledge, information and awareness helped but having them did not change me.  Actually, what I often experienced was that the harder I worked at not being depressed the more depressed I became when I ‘failed.’  Learning to be at peace with who I am actually released me from the throes of deep depression. 

My depression has been a gift.  I have been able to embrace the spiritual dark nights of my soul; I have been able to wander in the wilderness and wasteland and not lose hope; I have been able to perceive and savor the little pieces of light that are always present no matter how dark it becomes.  I have been able to dive into the depths and struggle with my version of Grendel’s mother (read Beowulf for a deeper understanding of what a deep dive entails) and surface again into the light, more alive and more healthy in spite of my wounds.  I have been more empathetic with others who struggle and at times find themselves in the darkness.  The dark nights of my soul provide me with the opportunity to learn more about myself; no one else could provide this opportunity or this learning. 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in Uncategorized |

  • Recent Posts

    • EMBRACE OUR IMPERFECTION — OUR HUMANNESS
    • A QUESTION I OFFER FOR REFLECTION
    • THINKING ABOUT CHANGE
    • FIVE COMMANDMENTS, PART II
    • FIVE COMMANDMENTS, PART I
  • Archives

    • August 2022 (6)
    • July 2022 (8)
    • June 2022 (15)
    • May 2022 (15)
    • April 2022 (15)
    • March 2022 (15)
    • February 2022 (13)
    • January 2022 (13)
    • December 2021 (15)
    • November 2021 (10)
    • October 2021 (13)
    • September 2021 (10)
    • August 2021 (14)
    • July 2021 (13)
    • June 2021 (15)
    • May 2021 (15)
    • April 2021 (14)
    • March 2021 (15)
    • February 2021 (14)
    • January 2021 (14)
    • December 2020 (14)
    • November 2020 (16)
    • October 2020 (14)
    • September 2020 (15)
    • August 2020 (12)
    • July 2020 (14)
    • June 2020 (13)
    • May 2020 (12)
    • April 2020 (12)
    • March 2020 (11)
    • February 2020 (12)
    • January 2020 (13)
    • December 2019 (11)
    • November 2019 (12)
    • October 2019 (14)
    • September 2019 (11)
    • August 2019 (12)
    • July 2019 (10)
    • June 2019 (11)
    • May 2019 (12)
    • April 2019 (15)
    • March 2019 (13)
    • February 2019 (14)
    • January 2019 (10)
    • December 2018 (12)
    • November 2018 (10)
    • October 2018 (10)
    • September 2018 (7)
    • August 2018 (9)
    • July 2018 (12)
    • June 2018 (10)
    • May 2018 (8)
    • April 2018 (11)
    • March 2018 (12)
    • February 2018 (13)
    • January 2018 (12)
    • December 2017 (10)
    • November 2017 (11)
    • October 2017 (13)
    • September 2017 (14)
    • August 2017 (12)
    • July 2017 (12)
    • June 2017 (14)
    • May 2017 (14)
    • April 2017 (14)
    • March 2017 (14)
    • February 2017 (12)
    • January 2017 (13)
    • December 2016 (15)
    • November 2016 (15)
    • October 2016 (12)
    • September 2016 (12)
    • August 2016 (13)
    • July 2016 (9)
    • June 2016 (14)
    • May 2016 (14)
    • April 2016 (14)
    • March 2016 (15)
    • February 2016 (14)
    • January 2016 (15)
    • December 2015 (15)
    • November 2015 (15)
    • October 2015 (15)
    • September 2015 (15)
    • August 2015 (13)
    • July 2015 (11)
    • June 2015 (13)
    • May 2015 (11)
    • April 2015 (15)
    • March 2015 (15)
    • February 2015 (13)
    • January 2015 (16)
    • December 2014 (14)
    • November 2014 (15)
    • October 2014 (14)
    • September 2014 (12)
    • August 2014 (10)
    • July 2014 (13)
    • June 2014 (11)
    • May 2014 (14)
    • April 2014 (14)
    • March 2014 (16)
    • February 2014 (13)
    • January 2014 (14)
    • December 2013 (14)
    • November 2013 (14)
    • October 2013 (14)
    • September 2013 (13)
    • August 2013 (14)
    • July 2013 (16)
    • June 2013 (13)
    • May 2013 (23)
    • April 2013 (29)
    • March 2013 (31)
    • February 2013 (28)
    • January 2013 (31)
    • December 2012 (29)
    • November 2012 (30)
    • October 2012 (31)
    • September 2012 (30)
    • August 2012 (31)
    • July 2012 (31)
    • June 2012 (30)
    • May 2012 (31)
    • April 2012 (30)
    • March 2012 (31)
    • February 2012 (16)
  • Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 45 other followers

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Searcher-Seeker
    • Join 45 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Searcher-Seeker
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
%d bloggers like this: