At one of our confirmation classes, the question was asked, what is the most concerning issue of the world for you? One student said environmental issues, especially pollution. The other said health issues, especially unknown viruses that may become an issue of concern in the near future. Yes, indeed environmental and health issues have become dominating agendas in our society and around the world. In climate change, it has been said that weather is not climate change. Although it may seem to be that daily weather changes in a region are not always indicative of global climate change, many people feel that even daily weather is not like that of many decades ago.
A strange virus that was discovered in Saudi Arabia has transferred into the United States a few weeks ago. Unknown and strange viruses similar to that one can quickly move around the world and become global issues on everyone's agenda. A common element between these two major factors, environment and diseases, is that they threaten everyone and affect everywhere. There are no exceptions or exemptions for a certain group of people or an area. Governments and Health Organizations cannot protect everyone in all areas from these issues. Each individual has to be careful and watchful for themselves.
Sometimes we wonder why modern people have more problems and are unhappier than previous generations even though they are living in the most prosperous and convenient time in human history. Analytical studies and scientific researches that I am aware of regarding these social trends and human behaviours of unhappiness and dissatisfaction of life, have led me to believe that individual responsibility plays a key role. A great irony is that when there are more alternative and possible ways to deal with human problems, then more individual responsibility is required to deal with the consequences of decisions. For example, if there were only one way, or one thing, to deal with a problem, then it might be significantly less stressful than having many choices.
While we are living in this complicated, rapidly changing and delicate world, in order to keep on enjoying our life in happiness and satisfaction, it requires us to learn how to live a simple, humble and joyful life with what we have and what we can do. St. Paul said, "Not that I am referring to being in need, I have learned to be content (satisfied) with whatever I have" (Philippians 4:11). At some point in our lives we may have had more than enough experiences that it is impossible to have and do everything that what we wanted to get and do. So we have to learn how to enjoy our daily life with what we have and can do. That is also each individual's responsibility.
