We live in the Information Age, where information is the currency of business and the basis of economic value. It is amazing how information drives our lives today. Everyday, we see more and more applications of information in our lives.
It all starts with data. Everything I do generates data: my birthday, my name, my residence, what I eat, what I wear, what I do for a living. When data gets organized into systematic sets or according to meaningful categories, it becomes information. When information is used to achieve some specific purpose, it becomes knowledge. This knowledge can also be organized into systematic sets or meaningful categories that becomes science or technology or philosophy. When this knowledge is applied to our relationships – to other people, to nature and the world around us, to God – it becomes wisdom.
Information, specially when it has become knowledge, leads to the formation of new ideas and paradigms. This knowledge of new ideas and paradigms, specially when it has become wisdom, leads to the transformation of a person, or of a community, or of a country, indeed of all humanity.
A man comes upon an information of a treasure buried in a field. This leads to the formation of a new paradigm, a plan of action: the man sells all that all that he has and buys that field. His life is transformed and he is beside himself with joy.
On a deeper level, a man comes upon a bit of information that inspires him. This might be an idea he has read or a person he has heard speak. It leads to the formation of new paradigms, new possibilities in his life. He reorders his life, probably gives up his old paradigms and venture our into new uncharted territory. His life is transformed and the man finds true joy and happiness. Such is the journey I have taken in following Jesus. Such is the treasure that I have found.
The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44