Progress? Really???

Droids and 3D HD televisions and iPads oh my! While I manage a communications division of a company and deal with technology of many varying types I am still amazed how far technology has come in such a short time. I see it every day in my world but then when I get home and actually have time to consider the advancements that have been made it really is quite mind boggling.

Do you remember when flat screen TV’s were introduced how everyone was so amazed how this would revolutionize the TV industry? Even when they were coming on the market could anyone have known the continuous evolution that would happen? Do you know that in about 3 years it will be the 20 year anniversary of when the HD format was approved by the FCC? How about this fact; over 60 years ago the first color TV standard was approved? How about recording formats? We started with betamax introduced by Sony almost 40 years ago and went then to VHS, then DVD and now Blue Ray with other technologies not far off. Companies seem to spring into existence with every new technology and if they don’t stay cutting edge they are soon replaced with new companies.

I wonder if technology is actually growing too quickly for us to really get a hold off what is happening. In other words, I wonder if we aren’t setting ourselves up for our own demise by wanting to advance so quickly that we never really understand the ramifications. I’m sure Oppenheimer was made aware with great clarity after introducing a nuclear bomb as he stated the following quote from the Bhagavad Gita: "Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

I don’t profess to know any answers about the issues I raise. I am merely an observer of some of these issues on this spinning rock but it seems the older I get, the more I reflect on what has taken place and how what we do affects what is to become. I think as a society we are so wrapped up in how to improve everything that we never really sit back and appreciate anything and that to me is the saddest thing about all of our advancements. We simply don’t appreciate what went into every step to where we are now. It is my humble opinion that the term progress is an oxymoron. In my mind, if you don’t acknowledge and consider every step you took to get where you are now and only live in the moment you are completely missing out on what your life has meant. The old saying comes to mind life is not about the outcome so much as the journey.

So consider your life. Consider where you started out and all the trials and tribulations, all the successes and some of the failures and come to appreciate what the journey has been and not just how comfortable you are now. Your life is simply not measured, nor should it be, by where you are as you sit here and read this. It should be more than that. You must consider the sum of the parts. It is my hope that you come to this realization and learn to thank your God for not what is in your bank account at this moment (although some might have a problem thanking him for that) but more so thanking your God for every breath you’ve taken and every day that has made up your life.