This is day three of Living Water's 10 days campaign (10days.cc). Basically, I won't drink anything but water for 10 days, and I'll give all the money I normally spend on Diet Dr. Pepper and coffee (oh, coffee...) and other drinks to Living Water, where the money will be used to bring clean drinking water to people who don't have access to it.
When I first heard about this campaign, I thought, hey, this sounds pretty cool. I really don't spend that much money on drinks, but I do treat myself to some coffee or soda every once in a while. I thought, I can do this. It won't be hard or anything, right? It won't impact my life that much, right? I don't spend much money on drinks anyway, so I may not make a significant contribution, but I can give something.
I was thinking all of that until I looked at the calendar dates for the 10 days: October 25-November 3, aka 10 days consisting of 5 tests. My first reaction was why does it have to be that week? Seriously? I have 5 tests, I'm going to NEED coffee! This is so inconvenient! If only it was during a different 10 days, when I didn't have so much stuff to do.
A little later, I looked back on what I'd thought, and I wanted to slap myself. I was worrying about HAVING to drink water, when people all over the world worry about how they're going to GET water. How horrible is that? I shouldn't see that as an inconvenience at all. The fact that I have access to clean water at no cost is such a privilege, not to mention the fact that I have extra money to spend on fancy drinks.
This got me thinking: all the things I see as inconveniences stem from the fact that my life is so convenient. My car is parked on the 6th floor of the parking garage, and I have to walk up lots of stairs. The dryer didn't work, and my laundry is still super wet. I have to study because I have a lot of tests. This building is too cold. My phone isn't receiving texts. The list goes on. I look at all of these things that I consider problems, things that I complain about, and I am appalled. Sure, my car is on the 6th floor of the parking garage, but at least I have a car. At least I have the proper use of my legs to take me up to my car. I have to study, but at least I get to study, at least I get to be in college. The dryer didn't work, but there are plenty of other ones that do. At least I have clothes that I can wash. The building is too cold, but it's cold because it's air conditioned. My phone isn't getting texts, but I have a phone. This list is not the most interesting thing ever, but you get my point.
The reason why my life is filled with so many "inconveniences" is because it is filled with so many conveniences and privileges. If you don't have anything that is convenient, then I guess you won't really have anything that is inconvenient, since they're opposites. I am constantly forgetting this, taking for granted all the nifty 'things' that I possess. I complain and complain, but why? All the 'inconveniences' I face exist only because I am so privileged. That's what I should be focused on.
My prayer is that I would have a thankful heart at all times. I don't want to keep forgetting what the Lord has provided me with, whether that be materialistic or not. I want to stop complaining, I want to stop seeing things as inconveniences. I know I can't do this alone, and I know for sure I'm going to fail more times than I'd like to admit, but I'd like to start making a conscience effort to appreciate all that I have.
