I don’t know about you, but I’m not sold on the idea that technological advances means progress. Dave Matthews wrote a lyric, “Progress takes away what forever took to find.” I agree with him.
Everything around us is becoming smaller, more powerful, stronger, and more convenient. You can barely make it through a series of television commercials without seeing a product that is New and Improved.
I’m all for progress in the medical industry. Less invasive surgeries, quicker reovery times, earlier detection of disease, and more effective treatments. That’s the good stuff.
But, do we really need a car that can park itself? Do we need to clear 20 acres of woods in order to build a new neighborhood when there is a surplus of foreclosure homes available? Do video games need to be more realistic, more lifelike, especially the gory and violent shoot-em-up style games?
“Progress” allows us to multi-task with great efficiency. But at what cost?
I think the cost is patience. People want results and answers, NOW. Everyday, I see and hear people commanding and demanding rather than politely asking. And, if they do happen to get results they want, there is no gratitude. They only want more.
I am reminded of a recent commercial where an adult is sitting at a “round table” with children. I don’t remember what product or service the commercial is selling. The adult male asks a question, “What’s better, more or less?” Or something to that effect. What sticks in my mind is a little girl’s answer. She begins to talk frantically with her arms and her words can’t process her thoughts fast enough. But she does manage to utter a complete thought, “We want more, we want more…”
This is what future generations are being taught? This is progress?
Emerson once wrote, “Adopt the pace of Nature: her secret is patience.”
At first, robins begin to return from their winter migration. Daffodils are always the first flowers to poke through the ground in early Spring. Then, the grass begins to grow. Trees begin to bloom. There is a natural progression of order. We have things to look forward to. Sure, Mother Nature has her bad days and throws a snow storm at us in April, on occassion. Nobody is perfect!
Perhaps, if for just today, we could show a little patience, we would appreciate our lives more. We would see beauty in the mundane. We wouldn’t rush to “upgrade” to “new and improved.” Then tomorrow, try being patient again. Create a habit and eventually habits can become routines, a way of life.
I know that I struggle with patience. It’s not easy to break habits. However, it is possible to rediscover what “forever took to find” Now, THAT would be progress! I’m ready to try. Are you?
Be Kind. Be Thankful. Be Significant.
Peter
