by Terri Wagner
I attended the opera for the first time Saturday night. The play was Andrea Chenier. I loved the fact that the opera was sung in Italian, set in the French revolution and had English subtitles. I was struck anew how touched my life is by modern conveniences.
And I love my modern conveniences. I love the Internet and the access it gives me to my ANWA sisters, my church and my world family. I love being able to IM with my college roomie across the miles from Alabama to Washington. I love being a part of something bigger than I am. I am grateful that unlike my ancestors, I can drive 100 miles roundtrip to work and it only hurts when I fill up with gas (growing more painful every day). And I love being able to jump on the Internet to find that piece of information that I need.
In a time of war, I find it astonishing that I can communicate citizen to soldier. My dad served in Vietnam, I remember days/weeks before we would get 2-3 letters at once. I love my cell phone and feel safe knowing I’m just a call away in an emergency.
And nicest of all is the fact that I can turn off the Internet, the cell phone, the car and feel the calm of starry night or a breezy beach or a still quiet moment with my dogs. I feel blessed to live in such a marvelous time. And humbled because I know as I’m sure you know these conveniences are for a greater purpose than our own indulgencies.
It truly is the dispensation of the fulness of time. I hope I never forget that though these are the last days and there is much evil, there is also much good.
You are right. We don't always appreciate the incredible gifts around us and the we can choose to switch them off, which I need to do a better job at.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget central heating!
ReplyDeleteI remember how great it was that my grandmother, who was born at Winter Quarters in February, 1847 (in who knows quite how rough a setting)and arrived via covered wagon at the Great Salt Lake in early September of the same year, was able to take a ride in an airplane before she died. Yet here I am. The first auto I remember was a Ford Model A, I grew up on a farm without electricity or inside plumbing, learned to type on an old manual tpewriter, made copies with carbon paper, duplicated with a tray of geletin, listened to tinny music on a wind-up phonograph, and learned to sew on a treadle sewing machine. Yet I'm still around for the greatest explosion of technology. If we would just keep abreast with ethics, well, you finish the thought. I'm falling asleep.
ReplyDeleteWow, I remember hearing an older woman asked what she thought was the most wonderful modern convenience. I think I expected to hear something like microwave ovens, or air conditioning, etc. Her answer was "running water." I love it! I would add, "hot, running water."
ReplyDeleteGreat post Terri. I always find myself thinking deep thought s after reading what you blog.