We ride subways and skytrains... we can stop and buy gas for our vehicle and we have electricity 24 hours a day.
Yesterday we visited the Bangkok Sealife aquarium... which was priced similar to a US aquarium... and had most of the same amenities. It was located in the Siam Paragon mall basement. At first you think... it's in the basement? But then you realize this mall has Bvlgari, Loius Vuitton, Chanel, Prada... and more places that were more expensive that I can't recognize. A cookie store had designer macaroons for 1000 baht each. (that's a $28.57 USD per oreo-sized cookie).
Even as we pared down what we own to live overseas... and continue to pare down as we travel.. we are faced with our wealth every time we turn around. The number of trunks we carry with us around the world (that have most of our possessions in them! We do maintain some small storage in the states) is SOOO much more than what many people own that have lived here all their lives! We feel bad when we look at the sparse and meager possessions of a Pakistani refugee family that has some blankets on the ground as a bed. Even so, the disparity here is not as great as it was in Kathmandu!
Today I read James 5:1-6:
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
We have seen and experienced enough that verse 5 really impacts me "you have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter"... The things our family has seen overseas has further defined and refined our definitions of luxury and self-indulgence - and perhaps convicted us all the more of the comforts that we have idolized. And even though we have lost 10-20 pounds living overseas, we still are double the size of most people we see. I remember reading a book on idolatry in the USA... it said our three main American idols (even in the church!) are comfort, entertainment, and materialism.
Are we all not guilty of idolizing these things? We praise God for the opportunities and experiences we are having. We praise Him all the more that His grace abounds in mercy and forgiveness! May He help keep us from taking for granted our privilege and use our (which are really HIS) resources for His glory!