Some of the main sources of energy are the sun, wind (air), fire, electricity, magnetism, atoms, water, etc. Without these, there is no energy or life, much less the conveniences of life.
But more importantly is understanding that we are not the cause of any of these. Yet we have regular use of them or access to them. They are always available for our use and benefit. And this gets to the heart of our true condition.
Are we the cause of these or the means by which they continue to exist? If not, then who or what is or does? Since there is no life without these, wouldn't it be important to understand and acknowledge this?
Are we grateful for these resources, or do we take them for granted because they are always available?
Do we assume they are ours to use as we see fit? And do we demand to have them when they are not and become angry if we are cut off from them?
Because we always have use of or access to these, we live life as if we ¹always will. But will we?
Why do we approach life this way? If we take these resources for granted, this is due to not recognizing that all we are and have are gifts i.e., they are available to us because something or ³someone other than us provides and sustains them. If we truly understood and believed that everything is a gift - vs a right - we would wake up every day grateful for our very breath. But most don't. Many complain about what they don't have.
Most assume all we have is rightfully ours. They are not gifts on loan but are ours to use as I see fit. They may even get upset if you suggest otherwise.
Because we always have use of or access to these, we live life as if we ¹always will. But will we?
Why do we approach life this way? If we take these resources for granted, this is due to not recognizing that all we are and have are gifts i.e., they are available to us because something or ³someone other than us provides and sustains them. If we truly understood and believed that everything is a gift - vs a right - we would wake up every day grateful for our very breath. But most don't. Many complain about what they don't have.
Most assume all we have is rightfully ours. They are not gifts on loan but are ours to use as I see fit. They may even get upset if you suggest otherwise.
And if we lose them, we get angry and even bitter as if it's our right to have them. And if others have greater access to or use of them, we become envious.
To pray before we eat and say "thank you for the bounty we are about to receive" should be our approach to all of life. When we wake up, we should 3thank God for the very breath we take in and for the use and enjoyment of everything else we depend on to sustain our life. Plus, be grateful for our 5 senses that allow us to take in and experience all the good things around us, instead of being angry if we lose them.
Why? We are not the cause or the one who maintains these things, but simply the recipients and beneficiaries. We should be grateful!
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Footnotes:
¹which is why death is such a shock and blow to us. We simply take life for granted until we or someone else no longer has it.
The fact that death is such a shock indicates how much we take all we are and have for granted. Life is not a given but a gift which is owned, controlled, and maintained ultimately by someone else, not us. We may be able to manipulate things to go the way we want, but only to a limited degree - never fully. We are ultimately not in charge.
Because we do not regularly ponder or appreciate the gifts of life, it shows how resistant (rebellious) we are to seeing the true nature of things.
²Contrary to scientific consensus, I assume there is a Creator. This is a position of faith. But so is a materialist worldview, which requires more faith than intelligent design in my opinion. For more on this, click here.
To pray before we eat and say "thank you for the bounty we are about to receive" should be our approach to all of life. When we wake up, we should 3thank God for the very breath we take in and for the use and enjoyment of everything else we depend on to sustain our life. Plus, be grateful for our 5 senses that allow us to take in and experience all the good things around us, instead of being angry if we lose them.
Why? We are not the cause or the one who maintains these things, but simply the recipients and beneficiaries. We should be grateful!
_________________________________________
Footnotes:
¹which is why death is such a shock and blow to us. We simply take life for granted until we or someone else no longer has it.
The fact that death is such a shock indicates how much we take all we are and have for granted. Life is not a given but a gift which is owned, controlled, and maintained ultimately by someone else, not us. We may be able to manipulate things to go the way we want, but only to a limited degree - never fully. We are ultimately not in charge.
Because we do not regularly ponder or appreciate the gifts of life, it shows how resistant (rebellious) we are to seeing the true nature of things.
²Contrary to scientific consensus, I assume there is a Creator. This is a position of faith. But so is a materialist worldview, which requires more faith than intelligent design in my opinion. For more on this, click here.
³like, David, we should say, "...this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
And like Job, when we experience loss, we should say, "...the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." We should continually be full of gratitude every morning we rise and take another breath.
