Things I Take for Granted
I never realized how many things I take for granted until recently when I took a trip to Thailand and Indonesia. The everyday conveniences that I have come to depend upon were not available at times, and I was surprised at just how comfortable my western lifestyle is compared to those living in Asia. It is actually embarrassing to think about all of the things that I take for granted every day of my life.
Variety of food. In America I can go to the store and purchase just about any type of food that I desire from anywhere around the world. I can choose to make it bland (for the sensitive stomachs in our family) or ghost pepper-habanero hot (for the insane members of our family) without much trouble. All of this in a one-stop shopping trip. However, in Asia I learned that while there is some variety available, you are getting what the locals eat at the “temperature setting” that they prepare it, which is not necessarily conducive to those with a sensitive stomach. Additionally, shopping is done at multiple places—a fruit store, meat market, and another store—just to get what you need for a single meal. The convenience that I have come to expect from shopping at Walmart or Costco does not exist in Asia.
Toilets. Squatty potties. Yup—this was the biggest adjustment. I like to sit down and relax while using the toilet. I am willing to guess that you don’t find many people playing on their phones in the bathroom in Asia when you have to keep your pants hiked, your body balanced, and your TP in your hand…there is just too much going on at once! I also missed the convenience of the flusher on the toilet. Seriously, I was not a fan of grabbing hold of the pan to dip water and flush the toilet, especially when you consider that others who had just gone to the bathroom had also grabbed hold of that same pan to dip water and flush. Gross. Oh, and don’t forget that you also must bring your own TP or plan to air dry or use the bidet (which was a hose attached to the wall).
Public sinks and the availability of soap. Again, I just took this for granted. Everywhere that I go in public and use the restroom in the United States has a sink with soap available. This is not true in Asia. There may be a sink, but there most likely will not be soap. Hmm. Interesting. I should have known about the TP as that is a common thing when traveling, but the no soap in the bathroom was a new concept for me. Needless to say, hand sanitizer is now on my packing list for all my travels.
Air conditioning. Westerners are spoiled when it comes to air conditioning. Usually, when it is hot outside, I bring a sweater with me into public places because the AC is turned up so high that I am cold. In Asia, the AC is rarely used, and if it is, you wonder if it is on. In the airport, I was so sweaty waiting for my connecting flight that I had to change out of my sweaty clothes and reapply deodorant before boarding my next flight. The crazy part was that as I looked around, I noticed that others were wearing long pants, long sleeve shirts, and/or sweaters, and they seemed fine!
Convicted. As I thought about my lifestyle in comparison to those I encountered on my trip, I found myself wondering, “Whose life is better?” Of course, my inclination is to think that my western way of life with its modern convenience is better, but the more I thought about it and reflected on my trip, the more I realized the richness of what my initial impressions of the seeming weaknesses in their culture had to offer.I especially LOVE how Asians live life in community; it is such a beautiful thing. In going to multiple grocery stores there is opportunity to build multiple relationships for sharing the love of Christ. In using a squatty potty there is less time wasted in mindless scrolling on my phone and efficiency in taking care of “business” and getting back to the important things of life. Although I must confess that I do like having soap at the sink and the convenience of AC that actually cools.
It doesn’t really come down to what is “better” but perhaps what is honoring to God. I think both lifestyles can be honoring to God if our hearts are rooted in gratitude for the things that He has given us. I am grateful for a heart prompted to evaluate the everyday things that I take for granted and for a God who is the giver of all things—even those squatty potties with their unique flushing systems!
Here are some things to consider as you go about your daily routine:
What things do I use every day that I take for granted?
When is the last time that I paused and thanked God for the life of modern convenience that He has blessed me with?
How does God want me to respond to what He has given to me?
Praying that you have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that beats out gratitude to the Giver of good gifts,
Heather