Every single morning, without fail, this cup magically arrives at my desk. The contents within is a dark dark liquid that can taste somewhat bitter and sour but packs a punch to get me going.
And yes, as the title would suggest, I take this for granted. What does taking something for granted really mean? Well, firstly, I think it's something you expect, all the time, without question. Secondly, you get extremely used to it, almost to a point of desensitization, and it becomes part of a routine. Thirdly, you increasingly fail to appreciate it. And lastly, you almost start to get annoyed at it.
Yes, this cup that appears on my desk every single work day for the last 12 months ticks all those boxes. I certainly expect it every morning, I am very used to it (the bitterness and sourness almost tastes sweet to me, and the `kick` is losing its effect), I don't appreciate it anymore (well, at least compared to when I first saw it appear magically on my desk) and I am actually starting to get annoyed at it (I mean, I sometimes want to drink something else, in a different looking cup!).
Of course, life is more than just a good cup of coffee but the realisation of taking a simple cup of black liquid for granted made me ask myself of other more significant things I take for granted.
The life I lead for instance is pretty sweet. I have a secure job which I enjoy immensely, a wonderful wife, am surrounded by great people, my health is good, I have enough money to do what I want and eat what I want, I drink coffee every morning, I have been saved from my sin by a loving God who called me to live a better story and I am loved. Yet, I can sometimes be unhappy with my life and those moments are usually found when I fail to appreciate what I already have.
A friend recently sent me an email with some attached photos highlighting the life of people who live around rubbish dumps in Cambodia in order to forage for food in order to live. I looked through the photos and read the accompanying narrative. Instead of actually feeling sorry for them and going through the whole, 'oh look at these poor sods, what terrible conditions! Look at me, I live in luxury, I should be soooo thankful', I began loathing my terrible mindset. I did not like the fact that I was using someone else's misery to make me feel better about myself and my life.
No, if those images do not illicit something more than just false self evaluation, I think I've failed to love.
If all I can think of after seeing this photograph is how I should appreciate and not take for granted my coffee, I've failed in the compassion department.
I think most of us avoid these issues and look at these photos with a lack of compulsion to action because we don't like to feel guilty or we just don't care. Or perhaps we don't even know where to start when it comes to addressing the issues. I certainly feel this way at the moment but am determined to overcome my lack of love and do something.
I am compiling a team of like-minded individuals who would like to make a difference and hopefully with Godly inspiration and guidance, we can do so.
I just hope I never take for granted my abilites and resources to make a difference no matter how small or large it may be.
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