Uncle Jeremy is the wisest man I've ever met, hands down or no hands at all. Jeremy Boland to those of you who aren't his artificial nephew by vague association. When he was still a teen he had the presence of mind to observe that the golden era really is from today on out. Upon consideration, I concur.
We all wonder what the future will be like, with flying cars, 20-foot televisions and self-changing diapers. At the same time we fail to appreciate how far science and technology have come. We have VCRs, microwave ovens, penicillin and Pop Rocks candy. The future will most likely grow brighter, but we'll be there together too.
Then we romanticize about the past with times of nobility, artistic discovery and the excitement of innocence coming unraveled. A lot of people wished they lived back then, in those times of romance and mystery, but isn't it really far better now? As Uncle Jeremy pointed out, "If you can read this, you're living in the best times and means that have ever been."
As the son of more or less poor people, I still have ample food and shelter, plus clothes and more toys than I can play with. I can go to the hospital when I'm sick and get medicine to make me better. And, this medicine is the best this world has ever known! If you don't like the system we have, then next time go for the leeches and blood-lettings.
If you want your renaissance period or revolutionary times, I say go back to those rats, candles, freezing cold, and food-poisoning deaths that are blamed on ghosts. Go back to a time without dental hygiene, with anthrax, bubonicism, oppression and ignorance. I'll be here all comfy in the Age of Light, of times when knowledge is always a google away. I like living in times when it's okay for both mom and dad to love me, in times where survival is closer to guaranteed than ever before.
Take this as my rare moment of honesty when I'll admit I'm far from qualified to give you advice. If I could tell you just one thing that you'd take with you though, I'd say to appreciate the moments God has given you. Not just that you have moments, but which moments you have, these ones. This is your life and it's happening right now. It's the only one you've got, and it's the best one that's ever been offered, so do what you can to say your thanks and make the most of it.
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