The world today has never seen so much affluence, such fantastic developments, so many resources to make lives better and living easier. And yet at the same time, the world has never experienced so much fear, anxiety and uncertainty about life and the future. With all the networks and communication media available, people have never been as interconnected as before. And yet, we are seeing records regional wars and conflicts because people can’t and wont come to the negotiation table to talk things over. With even less acreage for farms and planting, the world today produces more than enough food to feed everyone here on earth. And yet, many people still go hungry because some countries stockpile their food supplies in an effort to manipulate prices and keep them high; and therefore some people have to go hungry. Companies turn in profits quarter after quarter. And yet their stock price goes down because their profits are lower than the analysts’ expectations.
And yet if we just look around more seriously, there is so much in the world to enjoy and to be truly thankful for. There are babies born everyday. Even if some may be unwanted, every baby born is a sure sign of life wanting to express itself anew in yet another way. For every baby born is one of a kind. It is like every morning that dawns. We do nothing but the sun comes around every single day for us to enjoy yet another 24 hours. Nature and Mother Earth may be struggling against all the pollution we have been thrashing them with. And yet they will always put a show with the changing of the seasons: the bright and bold explosion of colors with the falling leaves in autumn, the serene whiteness of winter snow, the coming back to life of spring rebirth and wild and carefree mirth of the summer sun.
Then there are the many kindnesses we receive from people around us, some unexpected, many undeserved. There are the presence of loved ones that make the being around such a happy experience. There are the events we share that make us wanting more of such happy occasions. Yes, indeed, there are more things to enjoy and be grateful about than there are things to be worried and fret about.
‘For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.’
Luke 7:31-35