WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT YOU

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “what you don’t know can’t hurt you”. This phrase is

akin to the phrase, “ignorance is bliss”. These phrases may have merit when we speak

of innocence, but I have come to understand that ignorance is not a shield and not

knowing does not create a state of happiness. In fact, ignorance is a form of bondage.

Yes, knowledge can be a burden, but it is the price we pay for the freedom it affords. In

other words, the responsibility that comes with knowing is balanced by the rights and

rewards.

Ignorance leads to fear and frustration, like living in a foreign place without speaking or

understanding of the language. Imagine the barriers to having a liberating experience.

How can you communicate or even advocate for yourself?

On the other hand, coming into knowledge (learning) is a rewarding experience that

allows a person to command and claim a “barrier free” life. In my community

development work, our team strives to connect with members of the community in a

way that informs and increases knowledge so that they can participate in removing

barriers that keep them from a better quality of life. Our work is rewarding because

knowledge is one of the few things in this life that when given, can be passed along, but never taken away.