Givers of Knowledge

The Rockies - PC: Aaron Springston

The Giver of Stars is a delightful novel by JoJo Moyes. This book is historical fiction based on the Pack Horse Librarians of Appalachia during the 1930s. With a grant from the WPA, a few women began traveling the hills with books for the people who lived there. Most had no job, and the few who did were slaves to the coal mining industry. Not only was this an enjoyable read, but it started a deep reflection on what it means to people without access to information (or perhaps with access to too much information!) to have the ability to read and learn to think deeply. In this book, many people were upset that there was access to anything other than cooking and children's books. They felt if women were educated, then they would want more from life, and that would be very inconvenient for most of the men. What caused me to think hard about all this is our current situation where so many feel that anyone with an education is not to be trusted. Perhaps some feel if we know how to access information we might notice that the great and powerful Oz behind the curtain is nothing more than a man creating an illusion. When I was a child, everyone thought well of educated folks, respecting doctors and preachers and teachers. Knowledge is powerful and the wonderful thing is anyone is able to have it. A problem we have right now is so many seem to think it's unimportant. Let's double down on being the change we wish to see!

"Mortal thought does not at once catch the higher meaning, and can do so only as thought is educated up to spiritual apprehension. To a certain extent this is equally true of all learning, even that which is wholly material." Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Pae 349:26