The Future of Us

No one knows the future; that's why it's so interesting. But, based on the past, we can probably make an educated guess as to what it will be like.

When I think about the differences between 2012 and, say 1967, I find them to be mostly electronic and societal. The last 45 years has brought us, among other things; microwave ovens, home computers, and a succession of music and video players. But, the biggest differences have come in the way we relate to one another.

The violent crime rate increased from 253.2 per 100,000 people in 1967 to 403.6 in 2010 (United States Bureau of Justice, FBI). In 1970 there were 338,000 people incarcerated in the United States compared to the more than 2 million in 2001 (The Justice Policy Institute). American children with at least one parent home full-time is down 50% from 1967 (Monthly Labor Review Online). Abortions increased in the United States from 2,061 in 1967 to 1.2 million in 2008 (Johnston's Archive). There are, of course, many more comparisons that can be made, but I think you see the pattern.

So, what will the world of 2057 be like? That will depend on us, of course. Electronics and automobiles will certainly be better. But, will we get our act together as a society and determine to make a better life for our grandchildren? We love them dearly, but are we willing to make the changes necessary for them to have a better society than we do? If so, we must love not only our grandchildren, but the grandchildren of our neighbors, of the other social class, and of the other races. Because, if we only concern ourselves with our own family, things will never change. Political and economic decisions have always been made with ourselves and our own families in mind and look where that's gotten us.

One thing is for sure. Even if we make great progress, which I doubt will happen, our world will still be dominated by selfishness (sin). Nevertheless, we know how we are to treat one another. Now let's just do it.