Living in an affluent society -- part 1

We don't realize how blessed we are with material things.

Having visited a country recently that has a much lower standard of living, I'm more aware of how much we waste. OK, this isn't really another blog about Turkey, but it does make a good contrast. If you've ever visited a European country, you will recognize at least some of these issues:

• Electricity: they just don't leave lights on the way we do. I know that people reading this (all 4 of you!) are probably saying to yourself: "I always turn out the lights when I leave the room", but this is a different dimension. The main hallway and stairs in a hotel are usually dark until a motion detector notices your presence. The hotel room itself sometimes requires that your key be placed in a little slot in order to turn any lights on (thus ensuring that when you leave your room, all the lights are off). Even public galleries and museums sometimes have the lights dark until you trigger them. Ice is never served without a special request. Air conditioning is available only in the better hotels in the hotter regions. And even air-conditioned restaurants or other public buildings don't have the temperature as low as we are used to. Electricity is considered valuable.
• Automobiles: I drive a Honda Civic, which is considerably bigger than the average car there. The average car is way smaller than we are used to, and that's not even discussing our current fascination with SUVs. Many families can't afford a car, and make do with a motorbike or a motorcycle. It's even better than watching clowns come out of a Volkswagon to see a family of 5 astride one motorcycle. Grandma (with her long skirt and head scarf) gets to ride in the side-car. And people walk for long distances. However, one mistaken gesture towards conservation is that some Turkish drivers apparently think that it wastes gas to turn their headlights on -- even at night. Gas is considered valuable.
• Paper goods: I have to admit that after I returned home, I visited the supermarket, and I actually stood in the paper goods aisle, and sincerely gave thanks to God for the abundance of toilet paper. Some things you really don't appreciate until they are missing! And it is very unusual to have paper towels in a bathroom. Trees are considered too valuable to make disposable items.
• Water: water pressure is often lower than we are used to. Water is considered valuable.

So I'm wondering whether we are being good stewards of God's good gifts. I've determined to at least be more thankful, and try to be more thoughtful about whether I am wasting resources.