With the devastation from hurricanes Helene and Milton in the news, I've been thinking a lot about the things we take for granted. Not just the obvious -- clean water, food, electricity, housing -- but also the luxury of being annoyed by everyday inconveniences.
Delays in traffic. Having to wait in line -- anywhere. The frustration when the barista gets your latte order wrong. People who dominate conversations.
The list is long and filled with mostly inconsequential problems.
I experienced one of these hassles while driving out of my neighborhood a few days ago. One of the main streets into and out of the subdivision is undergoing repairs. This means that one side of the road is closed for traffic. Since I tend to drive on mental autopilot, I keep forgetting to reroute and end up having to turn around (in the comfort of my car) and go a few blocks out of my way.
The first few times, I scoffed: "Don't they realize we have places to go?" Fortunately, the realization that I was acting utterly entitled and impatient kicked in quickly.
We are fortunate to live in a country that takes care of its roads. There are many places on our planet that don't have such priorities.
I went on a mission trip to Haiti several years ago. The streets were pitted with giant potholes. There was trash piled up on the side of the roads with wild boars foraging through the debris. The home we stayed in was comfortable, but the walls surrounding it had barbed wire and broken glass on top to prevent intruders. The orphanage we visited had armed guards. They appeared to be teenage boys.
We were asked to take very short showers -- and to not use hot water. We used bottled water to brush our teeth. The power went out often with no warning, and most places had diesel generators for this reason. The people of Haiti were kind and generous -- but the experience sure made me appreciate the infrastructure we have in our country.
I recently took a trip from Illinois to Wisconsin and back. The roads were well-maintained and smooth. When we stopped to refuel, there was plenty of gas and a plethora of snacks and beverages to choose from. Some might say too many.
It's easy to complain when things aren't perfect -- when we are used to a high standard of living. When the power goes out, for most of us, it usually comes back on within hours. So, when devastating weather events hit our country, we are reminded of all we take for granted. For people in affected areas, fresh water and electricity may still be in short supply for weeks after the storms have passed through.
We are fortunate to have relief agencies that, while not perfect, come to the aid of those severely impacted. And we have scores of volunteer agencies that rush to help at a moment's notice. Still, our hearts break for residents in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and other states. Residents of Asheville and the rural towns in western North Carolina never suspected they'd be felled by effects of a hurricane. The area is devastated.
There are stories of a families clutching each other on rooftops that eventually collapsed. There are heartbreaking accounts of small-business owners surveying what is left of their life's work -- many without expensive flood insurance, because why would you need it in a mountain community?
The things they took for granted disappeared within hours. Clean water, electricity, food, being safe in their home -- everything has been lost.
It's human nature to take everyday conveniences for granted -- assuming the worst will never happen to us. In this oblivious state, we experience the luxury of being annoyed by life's little inconveniences. I'm hoping these not-so-subtle reminders give us all pause to think about the little things that sustain us and how fragile life is without them.