Comfort & Convenience

Who Are We Becoming?

In spite of all complain we about, there are so many things that we have that help us feel more comfortable and have more convenient lives.

Rollers for our clothes to remove lint.  

Gloves for nearly every temperature and level of moisture. 

Shirts and coats for the slightest differences in weather conditions.

Gas tanks in our cars that tell us how far we can drive based on the speed that we're going.

Sunglasses with different shades of inflections depending on whether there is snow or sand or grass or woods.

Heated seats in our cars.

Telephones that we can ask how far it is to a specific city and get results within seconds.

Garage doors that open automatically.

Thermostats that can change the temperature in our homes,  even when we are in another state.

Showers in our homes that can control temperature to nearly any degree we choose.

Toothpaste and dental floss in any flavor we want.

Candles that will turn themselves on automatically and off after any specific amount of time we desire.

Noise machines that we believe will help us sleep more easily.

The list could go on and on….

We are so embedded in these comforts / conveniences that we can't even imagine why other people and nations feel oppressed by their inability to enjoy even half of what we have every day.

So, in what way is this significant?

First, I do enjoy the pleasures of comfort, just like everyone else.

Second, I wonder about the downsides of so much convenience.  

Who am I becoming as a function of the comfort and conveniences in my life?

Third, what happens when these realities are shared at a collective level?  Who do we become, as a people, when our lives are primarily consumed by maintaining these kinds of things?

I wish no hardship or struggle on anyone.  But, it is hard not to notice what such things foster in us (sensitivity, compassion, respect for those who suffer, appreciation of help, enjoyment of simple things, etc.), especially when compared to what our comforts do.

What remedy is there, then, to this dilemma?