The Cost of Convenience

I read an article the other day on how the government pays for empty seats on planes so that out of the way places can still have air service.  Millions of dollars go to the airline companies every year so people in remote West Virginia or wherever don't have to drive an hour and a half to the airport to fly somewhere.  Seems a bit backward to me.  But, we do live in a culture where we buy bottled water for the same price as a soda.  Even worse, we'll drop $1.50 or more for a 20 ounce soda when you could spend 50 cents more and get an entire two liter. 

I think the thing that gets me most about the article is entitled attitude that everyone has.  Like the guy who says this:

"It's very convenient to have this place," Williams said. He said his family sometimes drives to Pittsburgh, to pick him up, but "that's a stress on them, and it's difficult to get up to Pittsburgh on time with all the road construction. So it would be terrible to have this go away."

Really?  It would be terrible?  We should spend $45 billion a year to keep some airports open just so some guy's family doesn't have to drive to Pittsburgh?  I think $45 billion a year could pay for the taxi service needed to get the few passengers from one place to another to catch their plane.  Or maybe the government should rent out Garmins for those who are directionally challenged.

The thing that frustrates me most, and really cuts deep in my own soul, is that we sit here thinking we are entitled to these things like cokes in whatever size we want and so on and so on while people in Africa have to make decisions on which child or children to leave behind to starve to death while the rest of the family goes in search of food.

Lord, forgive us.  Help us to see the things we need to do and move us into action!