Ever sit around thinking how messed up the world is? It doesn't take more than a passing glance of TV news, online, or print (I get most news online) to see there is a bunch of crazy sad stuff going on: ISIS lopping heads off in Iraq, West Africa (mainly Liberia) suffering the worst ebola outbreak since 1976, Russia claiming land that belongs to Ukraine, and epochal drought gripping Southern California. That laundry list of problems is enough to make the happiest person get a lump in their throat and feel blue about future prospects.
Aha, but there have always been and always will be problems! Don't panic. If you take a quick look in the Old Testament, there's a sad story told by the wealthiest man in history. Two sections earlier the author's father writes poems that range from super joyful to gut wrenchingly sad. I'm of course talking about Solomon's work Ecclesiastes and Psalms by David. Without going into great detail, "there is nothing new under the sun."
Fast forward a couple thousand years back to now, present time. If I were to count my blessings, it would take more than a couple blog posts to list them. I have a wonderful family: healthy, smart, beautiful, good dental coverage, two cats... things folks in developing nations dream about. My wife and child are the greatest gift God could bestow on me and I thank Him every day for it. We have a comfortable little house and cars that are paid for. Our refrigerator has lots of food in it; there's some popsicles in the freezer, and I have a healthy supply of venison jerky... again, the aspirations of many!
You must be thinking "Well everyone in America has that stuff; those are basics." True. I'm sitting in a pleasantly cool, well air-conditioned home (it was 108 F yesterday, 95 F today). As a reader of this post, I take for granted that you have a computer with internet access. Usually that also means climate controlled living quarters and plenty of food in your kitchen. But what of those folks in my opening paragraph? Do you realize how awesome your life is to NOT be stuck in a war zone or face deadly disease? Again it is about our perspective and attitude.
If I read about the latest greatest ________ and feel less happy for not having this (phone, car, vacation, toy), all it takes to get happy again is sitting in the floor with my daughter. She redefines my wants. Would it be cool to have an iPhone 6 or Caribbean cruise? Sure, of course. But I'd rather play another round of peekaboo and watch her eyes widen when a cat cautiously approaches. Am I interested in a Jeep Wrangler or Porsche 911 Turbo... hmm, is the Pope still Catholic? I'm more proud that I can efficiently buckle her into the rear-facing car seat. I dare you to race me changing diapers in the dark (with the aid of a night light). Twenty bucks says I'll win.
So what besides my family am I grateful for? Oh, being gainfully employed and having cars that work. Living in an age where I can have corrective heart surgery and buy 81mg aspirin in bulk is pretty cool. One of the most recently gratifying activities was cleaning up our living room. I took two full trash bags worth of stuff to be donated and another two bags to our dumpster. That means we literally have an overabundance of material possessions.
When I lived in China, another teacher and I discussed the American habit of collecting "stuff" to the point that it becomes unhealthy. This was before TV's show about hoarding; we mainly were considering how Chinese folks limited their possessions to the bare necessities and travelled light. Do you have anything in your closet that hasn't been worn in 8 months? Do you have clothes with tags still on-- not yet been worn or washed? Do you pay monthly fees to store your stuff at an offsite location (not due to being in military or school)? I think we could all do with more joy and less stuff.
This post sums it up well with a famous George Carlin sketch at the end. Find joy in little everyday blessings; that's the art of gratefulness. Shalom! :) >"<
