THE advances in science and technology have changed the lifestyle of human beings.
From rising up in the morning to the time of shutting out the world to sleep, people have to deal with tools and accessories that have made life more manageable, work less taxing and leisure easily reachable.
Who needs alarm clocks and diaries when all of these are in the cellular phones?
Why bother with a pen or paper when you can write a letter in Word and change the contents without an eraser?
Why walk when you can simply ride on an electric scooter? Why go to the movie house when there are great films on Netflix or Disney+?
Even Donald Trump puts out his presidential messages through Twitter. Soon electric cars will rule the roads. Space travel will become vogue.
Servant robots will take over the work of domestic helpers and nannies.
If we are as optimistic as Elon Musk, then the colonization of Mars should happen within our lifetime.
Humankind seems destined towards achieving a utopian society.
Yet the triumphs by leaps and bounds in science and technology have failed to eradicate poverty. Nor have these brought about equity in resources among nations.
Science and technology have failed to provide the answer to the meaning of life nor found the way to attaining total happiness.
And when a cure has been found for one disease, another affliction requires solution. War still persists.
We are not in control. Volcanoes erupt. Bush fires threaten Australia. Earthquakes occur everywhere. Oceans are polluted. Coronavirus is spreading. Global warming is real.
We are not in control. Drugs infect society and individuals. Cancer strikes anyone. Elderly people are lonely.
We are not in control. Families are broken. Marriages are troubled. Children are wild.
We are never in control even with all the science and technology. Yet we can do something. In our little ways, we can make a difference.
Giving to charity. Lending a hand to the needy. Throwing garbage properly. Observing hygienic practices. Voicing concern about the environment. Keeping away from drugs.
And most importantly, loving.
Loving one’s self. Loving one’s neighbors. Loving the world, even in all its ugliness, imperfections and sins.