Knowing is static. It’s a snapshot, a frozen moment in time. It’s a picture in a museum, untouched and unchanging. But learning? Learning is a wild, tumultuous river, constantly flowing and evolving. Learning is life’s journey, not a destination.

Yet, technology, with all its pros, is also a pro at making us pros in “knowing”, serving up answers faster than a lightning bolt. But in its race to fill our minds, it’s unknowingly emptying us of something precious: wonder. It’s the childlike awe at the vastness of the universe, the fascination with a butterfly’s flight, the intrigue sparked by a meaningful poem.

Wonder fuels learning, keeps the river flowing. Yet, with Google’s rapid answers at our fingertips, we’ve replaced the joy of the quest with the satisfaction of a quick find. It’s like skipping the climb and teleporting straight to the mountaintop. Sure, you see the view, but you miss the journey, the growth, the transformation.

The magic isn’t in having the answer; it’s in seeking it. Let’s allow our minds to wander, our hearts to wonder, and our souls to soak in the beauty of the unknown. Because in the grand scheme of things, it’s not about the destination of knowing; it’s about the journey of learning. It’s about embracing the mystery and loving the voyage into the unknown.

Let’s make room for wonder to breathe and learning to thrive.

Stephen Boudreau serves as VP of Brand and Community at Virtuous Software. For over two decades, he has helped nonprofits leverage the digital space to grow their impact. To that end, Stephen co-founded RaiseDonors, a platform that provides nonprofits with technology and experiences that remove barriers to successful online fundraising. He is an avid (but aging) soccer player, audiobook enthusiast, and the heavily-disputed UNO champion of his household.

Copyright ©2023 Stephen Boudreau.