In my previous blog, I listed twenty lessons Walter Isaacson highlighted at the end of his study of Leonardo Da Vinci. In this blog, I want to comment on three of them:
• Seek knowledge for its own sake.
• Go down rabbit holes.
• Get distracted.
I want to say, “Yes…and…” to all three.
There is great value in exploring truth because God reveals truth in his word and his world. Knowing more about God and his creation leads us to love him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. This is our chief end and the very purpose we have been created.
One way to reflect on this is to ponder the proverb, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings” (Proverbs 25:2). Of course, this raises questions about why God would “conceal” something in the first place. But I’m going to have to forgo that discussion for now. I need to search it out a bit before writing about it.
We could object to Isaacson’s limited view of things. We don’t really just “seek knowledge for its own sake.” Rather, we seek knowledge to learn about the all-knowing God who has given us minds to think. We want to understand deeper truths behind the specific pieces of knowledge we begin to find when we seek. Knowledge isn’t an end in itself – God is. And if God is indeed the maker of all things and sovereign over all, is anything really a mere “rabbit hole,” something with no worthwhile end or purpose?
But such quibbling isn’t the best use of our time. Indeed, we could think we’re just going down some intellectual rabbit hole.
What I want to encourage is meditative thoughtfulness that explores, examines, and appreciates all of God’s creation. We would do well to pause long enough to ask questions and allow time to consider a variety of answers. We need to value wisdom more than efficiency. We must delight in the process of learning, not just the product of concise tidbits of information. Da Vinci has much to teach us about this task and Isaacson can help us learn.
For starters, we may need to rethink our schedules. Are they too packed? Do they allow for reflection, meditation, and exploration? If you’ve taken any “time management” seminars, you’ve heard the exhortation to not “waste time.” Lately, I’ve delighted in such “wastefulness.” During those wasted moments, I’ve appreciated something new about God or benefited from absorbing something beautiful he’s created. Even though I have “nothing to show” for those moments, I am changed and have something I can’t show – something of value precisely because it can’t be shown. (I’m thinking of “things” like peace, joy, depth, and gratitude).
To be sure, we need to be good stewards of the time and gifts God has given us. Some of us do indeed waste time. If we reflect on how some of our time usage shapes us, we may need to remove those things from our lives that stimulate sloth, greed, or lust. But we may also need to invest energy in using time to accomplish little! In the process, we may find greater adoration for our God of all creation. Pursue a distraction. Go down a rabbit hole. Seek knowledge. See if it leads to doxology.
