I do not trust technology. I mean, I don't think we're in any

In the ancient world, the wise ones often spoke of balance—a concept that lay at the heart of their philosophies and their ways of life. The Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle, taught that virtue lay in the balance between extremes, in finding the middle path between excess and deficiency. To live in harmony with nature, to nurture the body, the mind, and the spirit in equal measure, was seen as the path to true wisdom. In that time, technology—though more rudimentary—was already emerging in the form of tools that shaped the world. Yet, the essence of these tools was to serve humanity rather than dominate it. Richard Louv, in his reflection on modern life, speaks to the same truth when he says, "I do not trust technology. I mean, I don't think we're in any danger of kids, you know, doing without video games in the future, but I am saying that their lives are largely out of balance."

Louv’s words echo a deep concern—one that transcends the realms of technology and dives into the very nature of human existence. In the modern age, technology has become an omnipresent force, shaping the way we interact with the world, with each other, and even with ourselves. Yet, Louv warns of a growing imbalance in the lives of the younger generations—an imbalance that comes from an overreliance on technology and a detachment from the natural world. The video games, the screens, the digital worlds—these are the tools of the modern era, but they should not be the masters of our children. Just as the ancients knew that the mind must be nourished by wisdom, so too must it be nourished by real-life experiences, by connection with nature, and by the simple pleasures of being fully present in the world around us.

Consider the ancient Egyptians, whose great achievements in architecture, art, and knowledge were made possible by their deep understanding of the world’s natural forces. They saw the balance between the human spirit and the natural world as essential for the harmony of life. The pyramids they built were not just grand monuments to the pharaohs; they were symbols of cosmic order and the connection between the earthly and the divine. Just as they relied on the sun, the moon, and the earth’s rhythms to guide their actions, so too did they know that the soul must remain anchored in the natural world. Technology in their day, while certainly advanced for its time, was always used in service to these deeper principles. Today, Louv’s concern is that technology—so wondrous and capable—has come to displace the balance that once existed between the human spirit and the natural world.

As we look back through history, we find countless examples of civilizations that fell because they lost their connection to the natural world. The Maya civilization, with its advanced knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, eventually faced decline, in part because of environmental degradation and an overexploitation of natural resources. The Romans, too, with their grand engineering marvels, began to face collapse when their dependence on technology and expansion overwhelmed the very resources that had once sustained them. These civilizations, once in perfect harmony with their environment, began to unravel when the balance was lost. Louv’s warning is not a rejection of progress, but a call to remember the essence of balance in the modern world, where technology, though powerful, should never replace the connection we have to nature and to each other.

In modern times, the young are often raised on a steady diet of screens, with little exposure to the natural world. Where once children played outside, running through the fields or climbing trees, today they are more likely to be found with their eyes fixed on video games or smartphones. Louv points to this shift as a source of imbalance, one that leaves children disconnected from the very elements that once grounded us all—the earth, the sky, and the seasons. The ancients knew that the soul could not thrive in isolation from nature. Socrates, for example, taught that true wisdom came not from the mere accumulation of knowledge, but from living a life that was in balance with the world. If we are to heed Louv’s warning, we must return to a more harmonious way of living—one that values technology but does not let it overtake our deeper need for nature and balance.

The lesson we take from Louv’s words is one of awareness—awareness of the tools we use, the lives we lead, and the effects they have on our children and on society as a whole. Technology, in all its wondrous forms, should not be feared or rejected. Instead, we must learn to integrate it into our lives in a way that maintains balance. Just as the ancient builders took the wisdom of the earth and used it to create lasting structures, so too must we use the tools of modern technology to build lives that are rich in both knowledge and connection.

Practical action calls for us to seek balance in our lives and in the lives of our children. We must not forsake nature for the sake of progress, nor should we allow the bright allure of technology to replace the deep, grounding connection we have with the world around us. Encourage children to explore, to play outside, to feel the earth beneath their feet, and to look up at the stars. Let technology enhance their experience of the world, but not replace the vital connection between the heart and the earth. In doing so, we honor both the wisdom of the ancients and the progress of the modern world, creating lives that are full, harmonious, and in balance.