Instant Everything

Have you ever paused to consider that we are an “instant society”? We want everything instantaneously, quickly, immediately, or in the twinkling of an eye!
Forget about patience, we want something and we want it NOW.

I don’t know about you, but I meditate on how much stress this “instant society” places on us. Let’s consider some of the “instants” found in our lives:

Instant breakfast
Instant potatoes
Instant messages
Instant credit approval
Instant automobile quotes
Instant gratification
Instant relief
Instant tea

If we approach this logic from another angle, let us reflect on other technologies, services, and items that provide results quicker than ever before.

Debit cards – instantly deduct funds from your account
Text message – instantly gives messages to you, no matter your location
Online ordering – you name it and it can be delivered overnight to your door
Pay at the pump – instantly pull away as soon as you fill your tank
One dose antibiotics – forget 14 days’ worth of pill taking

We would assume that all of these quick fixes to about any life need or problem would be making our life easier, less stressful, and freeing up more time in our daily agendas. Yet, I see the opposite occurring. People are more stressed. Calendars and agendas are more packed. Cell phones keep us bound to incoming calls. Text messages and instant messages are instant means of communication, void of much compassion or connection with others. How many “instant” financial solutions (payday loans, instant credit approval) have proven to be devastating to families?

I might not be in touch with this fast moving, instant society. My heart and life longs for a slower pace and a return to personal interactions with our fellow man. Neighbors are too busy and their lives to hectic to even connect. Families spend less and less time together as they rush through their days and collapse from exhaustion at night.

I will seize the slow paced life and all that it entails, anytime.