I sometimes struggle to connect with some of these Gen Alpha kids…maybe I’m just old. But some of them are so accustomed to constant inputs from screens and cell phones that any capacity for de novo thought synthesis becomes severely compromised. Boredom becomes the defining characteristic of a generation Doomscrolling toward Doomsday, never satiated by a contant diet of ultra-processed and insipid clickbait.

And related to this is the concept of “quiddity.” Although this term sounds like the stuff of Hogwartsian fantasy, it actually represents a refreshingly tangible reality that allows us to escape the mirage of Social Media. And building vocabulary builds champions!

Quiddity means “essence,” the intrinsic “thatness” of something. Those that reflect on the quiddity of the components comprising life’s individual snapshots are able to create an intricate tapestry reflecting the spectrum of blessings.

And that’s why I love running with the cross country kids…their appreciation of quiddity leads to clarity. It means being fully present, recognizing the present moment is, in fact, a priceless present. As we ascend mountain trails, the concurrent spiritual heights we attain leave any vestiges of brain rot in the rearview mirror. Although our lungs scream for relief on the steep grades, the oxygen of gratitude more than compensates for the discomfort as we exult in the beauty of God’s creation. And the cornucopia of endorphins that bathes us in post-run bliss elicits a sustained kaleidoscope of creativity that the transient dopamine spikes of Instagram reels can never rival.

We don’t run to escape reality…we run because we are really alive

Isaiah 40:31