Hatred, Ignorance, Nihilism, these are
just some of the way we can describe the condition of our splintered
and pluralistic North American society this holiday season. We live
on the edge of these emotional extremes because it seems there is so
much to be thankful for and yet so much to get angry about. If you
choose to dive into injustice in both your society and the world it
is easy to be become jaded. Is the only option to demand violent
revolution or give up on the world entirely? If you choose to embrace
the privilege of being born into a society with a powerful economy,
the tendency can be to become ignorant to injustice and numb to the
suffering all around you. Maybe you are relatively poor in this
society filled with wealth and resources. Are you supposed to not
give yourself the best chance for survival by shopping at cheap yet
oppressive corporate stores?
I think the answer for us today lies
in giving up our false pride and embracing the true meaning of
humility. Not a humility where we feel too insufficient and
insignificant to even care. Nor a pride where we put others in danger
for the sake of our own ideology. Choose to watch the suffering, soak
it in, understand it, weep for it, and help where you can. Don't
ignore it and go back to your shopping because you fear losing your
safety and wealth. Don't ignore it because you feel there is nothing
you can do anyway. Don't selfishly declare you're too weak to help. But
don't delude yourself into thinking you're Jesus Christ either. Help
where you can and leave the rest up to God. Today's injustices will
not be won through violent revolution, nor can they be ignored and
distracted by our wealth and consumption. Our best option is a slow
resolve. Love people in small steps and small ways, don't expect to
save people, but help them anyway.
Don't expect to end religious violence,
welcome refugees anyway
Don't expect to end all poverty, give
generously anyway
Don't expect to reverse climate change,
care for the planet anyway
Don't expect to end global capitalism,
resist it anyway
Emmanuel is coming, place your Hope in
him.
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