There was a time in America when people didn't have television or radio. There was a time when children played outside riding their bicycles or played with their radio flyers, climbed tree's or played hide& go seek, jump rope or hopscotch. There was a time when kids went to camp, like I did, to learn about nature and learn to ride a horse, or learn how to row a canoe, or just being outside and enjoying being a kid! There was a time when having a dishwasher or washing machine was a luxury. Minus the dryer. When people didn't have all the "necessary luxuries" of today. Yet, looking back, in my opinion, were the most content with what they had? Why is that?
Growing up, we used to wash our clothes in a tub and use a scrub board to clean the dirt off. That until we got a washing machine with a crank that had the two rollers where you would you put your clothes in between and it flattened out your clothes to take the excess water out, and then you hung them out to dry in a clothes line. None of this fancy stuff we have today where you just put your clothes in a tub, push a button and the work is done for you. I remember having to hang my clothes out to dry in the sun on a clothes line. Or how about the iron? There was no plug in iron's back in that time.We had to put a cast iron on the stove, wait for it to heat and then iron our clothes. none of this plug in the iron, push a button and you have automatic heat. we actually had to do the work! I remember growing my own vegetables, and being responsible for maintenance. I remember having a lemonade stand and learning about the meaning of work, finance and Entrepreneurship. I even remember learning how to cut people's grass. Now I'm not knocking innovation, but there is something to be said about the work that is done out of sweat and time that makes it meaningful. A sense of accomplishment for your thought & effort.
We live in a microwave world where everything is 'instant'. From washing clothes, dishes, or even warming our food. It's all 'instant'. There is no thought or effort into it. Just push the button and go! What happens when you take a society and you implement that 'instant' mentality? You have a society that is lazy, inconsiderate and unappreciative, because after all, you don't have time for anything complicated. If something doesn't work, you can go buy another. If a marriage doesn't work out, you can go out and find someone else. When you can have anything at the push of a button, what is that teaching a society? The simpler the innovation, the less content we seem to become.
In introspect, I can see how my grown up years have made me appreciate the things I have today. From growing my own vegetables, to washing my clothes in a tub, to just being a kid and playing hide & go seek. It took time and effort to see it produce. That is all we had. When we as a society do not take the time to be content with what we have, those things lose their value, and cheapen the things we say we want/need or perhaps even love. We fail to realize the blessings we do have.
I can't do much with my 13 year old computer. But when I save my money and buy a new one, I know I will appreciate the sacrifice I put in, in saving for one, and in turn, will take care of it so it will last me just as long. When we let innovation control our lives instead of enriching it, we lose our contentment.
I Timothy 6:6
Phillipians 4:12
Hebrews 13:5
Good News
http://campuschristians.info/Read-the-Good-News.php
Growing up, we used to wash our clothes in a tub and use a scrub board to clean the dirt off. That until we got a washing machine with a crank that had the two rollers where you would you put your clothes in between and it flattened out your clothes to take the excess water out, and then you hung them out to dry in a clothes line. None of this fancy stuff we have today where you just put your clothes in a tub, push a button and the work is done for you. I remember having to hang my clothes out to dry in the sun on a clothes line. Or how about the iron? There was no plug in iron's back in that time.We had to put a cast iron on the stove, wait for it to heat and then iron our clothes. none of this plug in the iron, push a button and you have automatic heat. we actually had to do the work! I remember growing my own vegetables, and being responsible for maintenance. I remember having a lemonade stand and learning about the meaning of work, finance and Entrepreneurship. I even remember learning how to cut people's grass. Now I'm not knocking innovation, but there is something to be said about the work that is done out of sweat and time that makes it meaningful. A sense of accomplishment for your thought & effort.
We live in a microwave world where everything is 'instant'. From washing clothes, dishes, or even warming our food. It's all 'instant'. There is no thought or effort into it. Just push the button and go! What happens when you take a society and you implement that 'instant' mentality? You have a society that is lazy, inconsiderate and unappreciative, because after all, you don't have time for anything complicated. If something doesn't work, you can go buy another. If a marriage doesn't work out, you can go out and find someone else. When you can have anything at the push of a button, what is that teaching a society? The simpler the innovation, the less content we seem to become.
In introspect, I can see how my grown up years have made me appreciate the things I have today. From growing my own vegetables, to washing my clothes in a tub, to just being a kid and playing hide & go seek. It took time and effort to see it produce. That is all we had. When we as a society do not take the time to be content with what we have, those things lose their value, and cheapen the things we say we want/need or perhaps even love. We fail to realize the blessings we do have.
I can't do much with my 13 year old computer. But when I save my money and buy a new one, I know I will appreciate the sacrifice I put in, in saving for one, and in turn, will take care of it so it will last me just as long. When we let innovation control our lives instead of enriching it, we lose our contentment.
I Timothy 6:6
Phillipians 4:12
Hebrews 13:5
Good News
http://campuschristians.info/Read-the-Good-News.php
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