Some Things Carry Over

As I am sitting on my porch this afternoon, and the past few days, I've been pondering a few questions. The most prominent: why are we often so eager for the next thing in life? Are we not content with what we have? Or worse, do we even realize what it is we actually have?

Sitting on a plastic chair that--for now--is holding my weight, I can appreciate the sound of the wind and rain falling on the banana trees around me. Stop a moment longer, and you notice the sound of the water flowing freely in the Creek down the hill. The sound of parrots, birds, insects and foliage together makes for an excellent backdrop to ponder what it is in my life that I have to be thankful for. To further the point of thankfullness, I had the opportunity to video chat with my immediate family located in Colorado and Indiana for just over 3 hours: and they are located on the other side of the world. How amazing is that?

What I've noticed the past few weeks, and to get more to the point of this blog's title, what I see operating in the 'the land of plenty' (ie, USA) is the insatiable lust for what you do not have. Now I am not talking about someone salivating for food, or that a person that is lacking a necessary vaccine. What I am referring to is the condition of apatite for what you currently possess or are experiencing. Physical needs like hunger, or the two dozen young mothers and children currently on the campus saved and being restored from negligent, abusive and horrible situations--are all too easy to diagnose and treat. What else could I be referring to then? How about the slight unrest lurking in the shadows of our thoughts; preying on our intentions and the perceptions of what we currently are experiencing.

While traveling to Fiji from the States, I encountered a number of vacationing families and people; happily going to or from their get-away experience's on an island or beach. The ones leaving for vacation, in hearty spirits, and those returning, reminiscing about their experiences. These are great moments, and I think they are very necessary to ones mental health--you could even argue I'm doing that. But what I have been observing--which I have observed for years in the States--is the attitude of wanting more than what you currently have. I personally believe this is a good thing, but only if it leads to your pursuit of the only One that can satisfy. I have tasted this, and can easily say that the sum total of all of my life experiences can not be compared to or in any way made equal to being in the presence of the Holy Spirit. But before I loose you on what is 'just my experience', let's take a brief look at the original question posed above. And for that, j have a specific topic.

Technology is a beautiful thing. And as bipolar as possible to singing it's praise by saying how I used it to video chat my family on the opposite side of Earth, I have to acknowledge that it has it's down-side too. In a busy Mall, walking in the Park or driving down the highway, you can see a common scene: someone completely absorbed by a small piece of silicon, carbon, copper and lithium. We know it by the name: smartphone.

What is saddening me is that the same behavior in the States is now observed all over the world. Driving past run-down homes consisting of plastic and rubble holding up sheets of metal making a roof, are people, staring into their smartphone (or other devices like tvs). And in a similar way, observing other realities, or masquerading their own, to the world outside.

Now it probably seems like I'm going on an anti-phone/electronic/technology rant, which may be partly true, but what I really want to emphasize is the focus of our attention, since that has been the specific thing I've been pondering. In a similar way that a cake is a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion, but horrible if you ate only cake for your primary food, I think technology has (or can) lessen the splendor of what, and who, is immediately around us.

My take-home is this: I think we could all use a refocus. And sometimes, that's taking your eyes off of the screen in your hands and onto the person in front of you, or the scenery around you. And trust me, the irony of me writing this whilst on my phone, is not lost on me!

I've heard it said that: "if a good thing becomes an ultimate thing; ultimately that good thing is a very bad thing". I think that pretty accurately summarizes the entirety of this post.

If you made it this far, then I think you deserve a joke! This one made me laugh anyway.

"Do you ever wake up, kiss the person next to you, and thank God you're alive?

I just did; and apparently I will not be allowed on this airline again."

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