Chapter Two "Comfortably Numb"

"The horror of the situation is that our affluent culture has drugged us; we no longer feel the pain of other people’s deprivations. Yet the first step toward the recovery of our Christian integrity is to be aware that our culture blinds, deafens and dopes us. Then we shall begin to cry to God to open our eyes, unstop our ears and stab our dull consciences awake, until we see, hear and feel what through his Word he has been saying to us all the time. Then we shall take action."

-John Stott

The word “comfortable” is defined as “the absence of sources of pain or distress.” Doesn’t that sound nice, and doesn’t that sound like something we all would like to have in our lives . . . the absence of pain and distress?

There is nothing wrong with desiring that feeling. But the problem is that it is simply not possible. There is no such thing as a life without pain or distress. And for millions around the world, pain and distress are daily occurrences.

In this chapter, I discuss what it looks like to live a numb life—a life unaffected by the needs of the world. The truth is, we have been lulled into a deep sleep, and we need to wake up.

I have decided that I know what bothers me and what wrecks me. I know what I can’t stand and what seriously disturbs me in our world. I know what I want to change. If you are honest, there is something that gets to you too.

I don’t want to be numb to these things anymore. It is just too hard. I want to see the needs, feel the needs, and touch the needs—I want to make a difference.

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