My coworkers and I discussed life and our current problems yesterday. "How do you define a comfortable life?" someone asked me.
As a 28-year-old, my life has experienced many ups and downs. I went through a lot of suffering, setbacks, triumphs, and losses. I have struggled mightily along the way to live a comfortable life, which is challenging to attain.
Everyone hopes to live a comfortable life, but what that means to each individual can vary. For some people, living a comfortable life entails having unlimited money and the ability to travel the world. For some people, a good meal, good health, and spending time with loved ones are more important than material possessions.
Comfort, by whatever definition, is a personal point of view that is worthwhile to pursue.
As I traveled home, I was struck by the tranquility I felt while taking in the beauty outside our jeepney. This inspired me to photograph and reflect on the comfortable life we had previously discussed.
These days, buying a better, bigger house or car, upgrading to the newest smartphone, or going on expensive vacations are expected or even commonplace.
Furthermore, from the viewpoints of some of my friends, it's a personal choice that doesn't hurt other people: "I work so hard so I can afford a better lifestyle," or "What's wrong with living a comfortable life?"
Like everyone else, they are adopting a lifestyle of ever-increasing comfort, luxury, and wealth.
But people with more than they need have always seemed unhappy. It confirms that having worldly comforts and wealth cannot buy true happiness.
If getting comfortable encourages the growth of pride, ego, and self-sufficiency and makes us rely more on ourselves than on God, then we should avoid doing so. However, being a comfortable person is not intrinsically evil. Whether we use our wealth to benefit others rather than ourselves is essential. We confess our dependence on God when we intentionally behave in that manner.
It's because I've realized that material possessions will never fulfill me. They only serve to satiate our cravings, which ultimately send us into a destructive, disillusioned, and disappointed spiral. I've discovered that focusing on the Lord, the origin of everything I have, is the only way to find fulfillment and purpose in life.
Therefore, the real question is not whether we can live comfortably but rather whether we are leading a life that genuinely, entirely, and honors God.
I used to believe that having a comfortable life meant you could afford anything you wanted with money and that life was unfair. This mentality is the reason I find it so difficult to unwind and the reason I fail to recognize the comforts God has provided for me over the years.
God calls us to be uncomfortable even in these times of comfort. God challenges us to step outside our comfort zones and pursue spiritual development during these times. I've realized this when I reflect on specific times in my life. When I'm in a mess, God holds me accountable; when I'm at ease, God tests me.
God, therefore, gave me two things to remember when I sat down and considered discomfort: first, there can be no growth without pain; second, if life is always comfortable, there is no need for a Savior.
I'm grateful to God now that I'm at ease because comfort is a gift. On the other hand, I remind myself that I need God, so when I'm uncomfortable, I pray to Him for strength and direction.