From Knowledge To Wisdom
In The Battle for Middle-earth: Tolkien’s Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings, Fleming Rutledge told us that, “The emphasis on understanding in Elrond’s second triad is especially notable. As we have already suggested in the Prologue, there is no instrument available to us greater than that of understanding—differentiated from Knowledge, which in Saruman’s context has a morally neutralized, harder sound” (p. 150). This is referring to Tolkien’s work in The Lord of the Rings. It is important for us, particularly in education, to remember this important distinction between understanding and knowledge. They are not synonymous.
In his works, Tolkien often portrayed knowledge as the accumulation of facts, lore, and history. These are the things we learn about the world or a subject. Understanding, on the other hand, involves perceiving the deeper meaning, context, and connections behind those facts. Understanding involves grasping the meaning, significance, and connections between pieces of knowledge. When we understand something, we can explain it in your own words, see how it relates to other concepts, and apply it to new situations.
In The Lord of the Rings,characters like Gandalf possess a wealth of knowledge about Middle-earth’s history, languages, and magic. However, it’s their understanding, like Gandalf’s grasp of the true nature of power and mercy, that guides their actions. Similarly, characters like Frodo gain understanding through experience, which helps them comprehend complex themes like sacrifice and friendship beyond mere facts.
Tolkien gives us the best examples of how knowledge is about “what is,” while understanding is about “why it matters” and “how it fits into the bigger picture.” This distinction highlights the importance of wisdom and insight, which go beyond simply knowing facts, to truly grasp the essence of life and moral choices.
Leading With Crazy Ideas
In an episode of Chicago PD I watched the other night, Sergeant Trudy Platt (Amy Morton) told Detective Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) that, “Some of the best decisions we ever make start out as crazy.” The phrase caught my ear and reminded me that taking risks or thinking outside the box can lead to remarkable outcomes. I’ve written about crazy ideas before in The Devil’s Advocate.
“For an idea that does not first seem insane, there is no hope.”
~ Albert Einstein
Often, innovative ideas or bold choices might seem irrational or unconventional at first, but they have the potential to result in great success or personal growth. It encourages us to embrace our instincts and not dismiss ideas solely because they seem unusual initially, emphasizing that stepping outside our comfort zones can lead to positive transformations.
Big Picture Versus Up Close
While watching an old episode of NCIS last night, the ever insightful protagonist, LeRoy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) made the comment to NCIS Special Agent Eleanor Bishop (Emily Wickersham) that she should, “Forget the big picture, look at everything up close.” This is an interesting thought and a takeoff of the famous quote from Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, Lullaby (2002), that says, “The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything up close.” This really got me to thinking that this advice could be taken two different two different ways with both ways of looking at it being right.
In the context of the television show, Gibbs was advising Bishop to pay attention to the here and now and not worry so much about the big picture. In other words, be where our feet are. Whereas, in the case of Palahniuk’s comment, it was meant that if we spend all our time looking too closely, we will forget the big picture.
This is all quite the conundrum for me to think about. Palahniuk’s work highlighted how focusing on small, immediate details can distract us from broader concerns or truths. In the context of his writing, it often serves as a commentary on modern society’s tendency to obsess over trivialities, thereby losing sight of more significant issues or realities. Palahniuk frequently explored themes of perception, control, and societal obsession, using this idea to emphasize how individual preoccupations can obscure larger, more meaningful perspectives.
I believe this is one of those times where we have to hold both ways of thinking as right and balance them according to context. There are times where we need to stay focused on the big picture and others when we need to be in the moment and looking at everything close up.
Leading With LEGOS
I am doing some leadership development right now using LEGO® bricks as the through-line. It always amazes me that the same things that we learned as kids playing with LEGOS apply as adults and leaders. Designing intricate LEGO models requires planning. Leaders can learn to set clear goals and visualize long-term success before executing initiatives. We also need to remember, however, that Just like LEGOS can be assembled in countless ways, as effective leaders we should encourage innovation, adaptability, and creative problem-solving within their teams. I always remind groups I am working with that the finished product does not always have to look like the picture in the instructions.
This all becomes a question of what is the worst thing that can happen. We know that strong foundations are essential. So if we focus on establishing solid core values and structures that hold everything together, we should be able to experiment, learn, and build. The risk of being wrong sometimes overpowers us, keeping us from taking risks that might turn into incredible innovations or outcomes. Which leads me to another connection to LEGOS: the quality of a LEGO creation relies on our ability to imagine.
The more people we have using their imagination, the better. Combining different Lego pieces to create complex structures highlights the importance of teamwork. Leaders should foster collaboration, recognizing that diverse contributions lead to better outcomes. Have you ever noticed that, while working with LEGOS is fun by yourself, it is really fun when working with others?
Finally, building with LEGOS often requires patience and careful attention to detail. Leaders can draw inspiration to stay persistent through challenges and setbacks.
Curating Authenticity
I believe in being authentic and not a curated image. This can become a bit paradoxical or hypocritical because we all do some curation of our own image by intentionally managing how we present ourselves to others, both online and in-person. This can involve choosing specific words, attire, behaviors, and even social media content that reflect the persona we want to project. We often highlight our strengths, achievements, or certain values, while downplaying or omitting aspects that might be considered less appealing.
This curation becomes problematic when it starts to distort or hide our true self to the point where we’re not being authentic. This can lead to a disconnect between how we present ourself and who we really are, which might cause feelings of inauthenticity or even anxiety over maintaining that curated image.
It’s better to be genuine and true to ourself rather than putting on a superficial or overly polished version of who we are. It encourages embracing our real qualities, imperfections, and quirks instead of creating a carefully crafted appearance that might not fully represent our true self. This approach fosters honesty, trust, and deeper connections with others.
Being Willing To Fail Or Lose
In another episode of, House I was watching last night, the protagonist Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) told a doctor competing for a fellowship who was obsessed with playing the game and always winning that, “If you’re going to work for me you have to be willing to fail or lose.” We talk a lot about it being okay to fail forward but this was a pretty straightforward way of looking at it. It really made me think about how we can use failure to solve complex problems. The character of Dr. House often encouraged stepping back from obsession with success and instead embracing risk, learning from mistakes, and being open to different approaches.
This reminded me that fixation on winning or achieving perfection might sometimes prevent genuine growth or innovative thinking. It’s a way of emphasizing resilience and adaptability over rigidly always chasing the win or success. In the context of the show, House wanted his team members to understand that they might face situations where things don’t go perfectly, and that’s okay. We are reminded that what matters is a willingness to take risks, learn from mistakes, and not be paralyzed by fear of failure. It’s a mindset that encourages resilience, innovation, and growth, even when the stakes are high.
Our Shadow and Our Shine
In his September 1st poem in Diary of an Old Soul, George MacDonald said, “We are a shadow and a shining, we!” I love the metaphors of shadows and shining. He was highlighting the dual nature of our human existence. The “shadow” symbolizes our mortal, imperfect, and finite aspects. Shadows also represent things we repress, our limitations and struggles. The “shining” represents our divine, eternal, and luminous essence. Our true spiritual nature, potential, and where we excel is where we shine.
On September 1st, in that poem, MacDonald was encouraging us to recognize both sides of ourselves. We need to embrace the transient, imperfect parts, and the enduring, radiant spirit within ourselves. It’s an invitation to embrace our flaws while also acknowledging our inherent light and goodness, fostering humility and hope on our spiritual journeys.
Tries Are Worthless
The other night when watching episodes of, House, the protagonist Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) made a provocative comment that really made me think and still has me thinking. He said, “Tries are worthless.” To give some context, after losing a patient in a particular tough case, one of the other doctors said that at least they tried. That’s when House said, “Tries are worthless.” At first I could not get my head wrapped around the comment. I believe the show’s writers were having House suggest that simply making an attempt without purpose, effort, or proper strategy doesn’t lead to meaningful results. Alternatively, it could have been emphasizing that trying alone isn’t enough. Success requires genuine effort, learning, persistence, or the right approach. In other words, just trying is not enough.
In the show, House always solves complex medical cases using unconventional methods, experimentation, and sometimes failing multiple times before finding the right diagnosis. This really does go beyond just trying. Effort alone isn’t always enough; the way we try matters. Genuine effort, learning, and perseverance often lead to better outcomes. Trying without focus or direction may not be productive. It’s important to try intentionally and with purpose.
Sometimes, trying without reflection or adaptation can feel futile. Success often involves trying different strategies and learning from failures. The phrase challenged me to consider to always consider what I’m truly trying for, and encourages me to focus on meaningful goals rather than just effort for effort’s sake.
Leading Down The Bunny Trail
Yesterday, as I was checking cows, I noticed a bunny trail coming out of the woods into a field (see featured photo). This reminded me of the phrase “going down a rabbit hole.” The phrase originated from Lewis Carroll’s classic book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In the story, Alice literally falls into a rabbit hole and finds herself in a strange, fantastical world. I had the chance to retrace Carroll’s steps while studying in Oxford. I also got to visit the shop that the actual Alice Liddell (who some scholars believe to be the Alice in Carroll’s stories is based on) would visit as a child and is featured in Lewis Carroll’s book Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. The shop is now Alice’s Shop and is the official place for all things Alice in Wonderland. Check out the photo of my coffee mug from there.
Over time, the phrase, “going down a rabbit hole,” has come to metaphorically describe a situation where we become deeply involved in complex, confusing, or endless details, often leading us away from our original focus. It’s commonly used to refer to exploring a topic or series of ideas that become increasingly intricate or absorbing, sometimes to the point of losing track of time or the main objective.
Going down rabbit holes isn’t always bad. Rabbit holes can be a valuable way to learn deeply about a subject, satisfy curiosity, or come up with creative ideas. However, it can also become problematic if it leads to spending too much time on less important details, causing delays or distraction from your main goals. Like many things, moderation and awareness of balance are key.
Harnessing Knowledge for Positive Impact
It was said that Gollum’s, who was originally known as Sméagol in The Fellowship of the Ring, knowledge and possession of the Ring led him down a dark path. The narrator in The Fellowship of the Ring told us, “…and he put his knowledge to crooked and malicious uses” (p. 52). Leaders should be cautious about how power and knowledge are used. Ethical guiding principles are essential to prevent corruption. The Ring represented temptation that can corrupt even the most innocent. Leaders must be aware of temptations and resist shortcuts or unethical decisions that might seem beneficial in the short term but are harmful in the long run.
Gollum’s downfall illustrates how losing sight of integrity can lead to destructive behavior. We should prioritize honesty and moral values to maintain trust and uphold our responsibilities. Gollum’s internal conflict highlights the importance of self-awareness. As leaders we need to be self-aware of our motivations and biases to make wiser choices and avoid being led astray by negative influences.
It also said of Gollum that “The ring had given him power according to his stature” (p. 53) I believe Tolkien was suggesting that Gollum’s sense of power and influence was directly proportional to his own perception of importance or worth. The Ring amplified his personal attributes of obsession, desire, and cunning. This made him feel more significant than he actually was. It emphasized how Gollum’s sense of power was rooted in his obsession with the Ring (a possession), and how this “power” was a reflection of his inner character and psychological state rather than any true or substantial influence or authority. It highlighted that Gollum’s sense of power was self-made and internally driven, shaped by the Ring’s influence. Gollum’s story underscores the importance of ethical behavior, integrity, and self-awareness for effective and trustworthy leadership.
Byron's Babbles 
leave a comment