It's corruption, stupid!

The real tragedy of the 28th March earthquake for Bangkok was the one collapse of a building under construction, killing about 100 construction workers, seemingly all Burmese.  This tragedy highlighted  corruption as the culprit, not the strength of an earthquake's destructive forces, for the management was using substandard steel.  The destructive forces of the earthquake were let loose elsewhere - in Myanmar, a country suffering tragedy upon tragedy.    

Back to Bangkok.  I discover that an earthquake is about much more than a 45 second, earth-shaking period of time.  Whatever that 45 seconds was for anyone involved, the earthquake becomes about all that follows on from that one short, but seemingly endless timeframe.  

In My Bangkok, the earthquake unearthed corruption.  The real tragedy was man made and it has caused much, needless suffering, and mainly, once again, those who are the most vulnerable suffer the most.   

This collapse of one building under construction revealed double corruption, double tragedy, for it was to be new office space for the Auditor-General, who wrote to his staff about their loss, lamenting the collapse of their new home, while not bothering to even mention the loss of life caused by its collapse. I will say no more.  

I will give the last word to Pope Francis.  Who better?  He stressed that "corruption is an ancient evil, ... named by the Fathers of the Church as 'the Devil's dung'".   So he encourages us to fight its scourge for the sake of constructing a better future, not just better buildings.  Amen to that!  God rest the souls of those tragically killed!  And for what purpose did they die?  This is more than sad.  

  

   

My apartment is swaying! What's going on?

On Friday, 28th March, at 1.20pm, an earthquake hit My Bangkok.  At the time, I was on my own, in my room.  This was my first earthquake.  I remember my initial and natural processing of what was happening.

1)  What is this?

2)  Is this an earthquake?

3)  It is an earthquake!

4)  What do I do? 

5)  It is too late to do anything  now.

6)  I hope this finishes soon.  

All this happpened in rapid succession, during the 45 seconds, that the earthquake lasted.    

What can I say about the experience from my standpoint?  

I have to start by categorically stating the real tragedy is Myanmar, where they suffer tragedy upon tragedy.  I just so feel for these people who deserve a much better life.  

Going on from this basis, my experience has been my experience, within the context of being on my own and not suffering any loss.  Then, as I ventured out of my little world, I tasted the wider experience of an earthquake in Bangkok.  I must observe that I am learning much about what is happening and this learning is continuing.  I am not presenting here a finished thesis, by any means.

What I am discovering is that the number of stories and experiences around this event can be as many as the number of people that I encounter.  There is no one story that says it for everyone.  I am also discovering that, while here is not Myanmar, there is a level still a level of distress and trauma.  I feel no trauma, but I am discovering that I need to process this event and that processing takes time.  

Finally, the event is not a one-off 45 second period, but is also a process, which seems determined by where you stand in the overall picture of the event.  Truth is, in My Bangkok, there are very distressed people, there are people killed by a construction site collapse, people are suffering.  I am not to minimize the experience of ones around me.  

So I pray a prayer of St Teresa of Avila that speaks to us today, in My Bangkok. 

"We can endure anything from without, if we have peace within.  

The obstacle to inner peace lies within.  Keep on doing what you know is useful.  

Keep the love of God before you.  The love of God within cannot be overcome."    

 

"Shut your mouth"

Last Monday was St Patrick's Day!  Instead of going to an Irish pub for green beer, I had a much better option lined up.  It was to have dinner with a few people from our Sunday mass community.  It was more than just a night out, for it was our chance to meet and chat with Fr Dominic, a Myanmar priest, ministering to his people, up in the north of Thailand. 

Fr Dominic is a good man and a good priest, doing great things to help his people, who are here fleeing war, persecution and poverty.  So many come here, with some facing such dire circumstances in striving to eek out an existence in Thailand.  Despite the trauma of war and desperation back home, they remain a commendable people, smart and competent, able to achieve so much in the face of such adversity.  

Back to Fr Dominic.  He is such a kind and gentle man, dealing with a suffering humanity.  We heard him share in his softly spoken and humble way, about the challenges he faces and the burdens he bears.  Trauma and suffering are the lot of his people.  In hearing of this, we were there not to show pity, but solidarity.  Our aim was not to listen to a spicy, after dinner speech, but to reach out and help.  St Patrick would have totally approved of our chosen celebration of his day.    

Over the years, I have come to appreciate that the best word to describe life, in its various dimensions, is "mystery".  Mystery, for where is our loving God?  She is right in the midst of human suffering and striving!  God explains a Fr Dominic who remains so humble and gracious in the face of the raw, human struggle of life.  As we sat there in his presence, what could we say?  Words are not essential, for it is all about the mystery which we live and breathe, and act upon. 

During the week, I read that this word "mystery" comes from an ancient word, meaning "to shut one's mouth".  That is what it is about.  Once again, that night, we were left speechless.  Life is truly and ultimately mystery, and it is so, for it is under the loving care of a kind and gracious God who is mystery.  All shall be well!       

Erin go bragh

Happy St Patrick's Day!  

St Patrick was a tough character.  As one may say in Australia, he was a down to earth, fair dinkum guy.  He is a reminder that being a saint is not to turn someone into a pious, angelic type.  Who wants to be like that, anyway?  Not me.  

From a Distance was a great Bette Midler song of 1990.  It went like this.    

From a distance, the world looks blue and green.  

From a distance, there is harmony.  

From a distance, we all have enough.  

Froma distance, we are instruments marching ina common band. 

From a distance, you look like my friend.  

God is watching us from a distance.  

A great song but what poor theology and is that how we want to approach life?  Not me.  

In the Christian narrative, there is no distance, for God is offering humanity intimacy.  Can we cope?  I know I find it threatening.  Too close for comfort?  Yet the invitaion remains ever open from our God, no matter what.  This is a key reminder that our faith invites us to transformation, not comfort, routine and acceptability.

The Christian project challenges us to engage with our world, its realities and the peoples in it, to enter into encounter with our neighbour and to know God close-up.  Am I up to the challenge or will I remain in my bubble?    

 

  

A Definite First

Last week, I did something different.  I enjoyed a mini school reunion, and here in Bangkok.  Pichai, a local and now good mate, boarded at Nudgee, when we were there 50 years ago and more.  JB, another of our class, was here on a regular holiday.  So the three of us had an enjoyable dinner together.  When we went to pay, the waiter told us that the bill was covered by a couple at the bar.  I thought they must be among Pichai's friends or business associates, but No!

The couple, who paid, were connected to me.  They had recognised me as the priest from Assumption Cathedral, where they had gone for mass.  They saw me at the restaurant and paid our bill, paying for all of us.  I remember now greeting them after mass.  They were friendly and there they now were at the same restaurant that night, leaving later for home in the USA.    

This was amazing.  The coincidence of being in the same place, at the same time, was incredible.  Their kindness just overwhelmed me.  This was a definite first for me.  All I could say was "Thank you".  I was left lost for words. They never had to do this, but they did and just did it.  

Their kindness alerted me to the goodness of humankind.  People can be so kind and good.  We see all the bad stuff going on in our world but, deespite all, people remain basically decent and good.  That speaks of the salvation of our world.  Good does hold its hand over the bad.  

Yes, there is a lot of bad stuff around.  That same day, I read a message from Pope Francis to a meeting of scientists, alerting them to a "polycrisis world".  There is just so much going wrong - wars, climate change, mass migration, poverty.  He was urging them to do something constructive in response.  As he said. 'We can't just stand still'.    

Therein lies the key.  Yes the bad is part of our world and part of us, but we ever have power to act for good, to act for the good of all, to build that better world in line with God's vision for humanity.  The lesson I learnt from the kindenss of that lovely couple, returning to the USA, is that we can do it.  We do have power for good.  We all have that power, which lies within the heart of our human vulnerability.  Let us claim it and use it.  We can do it, if we are but humble enough, honest enough, vulnerable enough.  

  

The Wounded Healer

"Of the sweets of adversity, and let me say that these are not numerous, I have found the sweetest, the most precious of all, is the lesson I learnt on the value of kindness. Every kindness I received, small or big, convinced me that there could never be enough of it in our world. To be kind is to respond with sensitivity and human warmth to the hopes and needs of others. Even the briefest touch of kindness can lighten a heavy heart. Kindness can change the lives of people."  

- Aung San Suu Kyi in her Nobel Lecture, 2012  

In the last week, I met face to face, for the first time, a Burmese guy who initially came my way in 2018.  We should have met long before now, but Covid and then an ugly war stopped that from happening.  I met him at Bangkok airport on his way out of Myanmar, fleeing a war, seeking a new beginning so as to support his family back home.  

Reflecting back, I can see his sad eyes.  I must say that he is not the only Burmese with sad eyes.  

Given the circumstances of a rushed meeting between planes and his trauma of departure from a war zone, even if home, I was not sure how to approach him.  I just went prepared, telling myself - be awake and be friendly.  

He asked me if Myanmar was the worst country in the wolrd.  To offer some optimism, I could truthfully say, "No,  Surely Gaza is worse?"  He spoke of his family and their tragic plight.  Despite all, the human spirit goes on, his spirit goes on.  

Even as a helper, one on the other's side, I can become far too self-assured about my lot and that of others, even those so wounded, with so little in their hands.  Truth is I am above no one.  No human act is beyond me.  So judge no one.  

Then I remembered the great insight of Henri Nouwen - we are but "wounded healers".  We are all in the same human boat.  So I remind myself to never become harsh towards others and remain always kind.  Then the words of Aung San Sun Kyi came rushing back to me.  There is nothiong greater in our world than human kindness.  Be always kind!

It's a Struggle

For some reason, when I went to the local store this past week, for my weekly, grocery shopping, I was shocked at how much everything cost. I was walking down aisles, looking at all sorts of items, thinking it all costs so much   This simple, everyday experience became overwhelming, putting me in touch with the universal human struggle.  

Struggle is a key spiritual theme, within Christian religion, and not in Christianity alone.  It is a life-long struggle, a quest for life, run within the primal battle between good and evil.  It so strikes me that this battle is being waged both out there, on the streets, and, in here, in my heart.  I feel it as I know this struggle so well and it does not simply go away.  

It is one where we are dealing with powerful, internal forces.  If we want to understand wars, we don't have to look further than ourselves.  No one is outside this human storm.  If we think we are above this struggle, we are either deceiving ourselves, lacking in self- awareness or just playing an arrogant game.  So what is our response to this battle?  Fight or flight, as they say?  

Flight is an easy escape, too readily sought.  Sadly, we too often reduce life to its lowest common denominator.  We fall into unhelpful routines.  We retreat to our comfort bubbles.  We rely on gimmicks and games to reassure ourselves.  To do any of this is to miss out on the beauty and joy of life, while failing to deal with the harsh realities of life, which stay with us.  

The other side of life is that it calls us beyond our safe zones and tried ways to wondrous spiritual depths and illumined human heights.  The challenge to being people of integrity and humility, living authentic and aware lives, may overwhelm us, but it is the invited and great way ahead.  Within the Christian narrative, based on the Gospel, St Charles de Foucauld lived life by a simple motto - 

"Be Christ in order to do what Christ does".  

In doing what may appear as so alien to the accepted ways of our world, we are destined to find peace and happiness.  This simple way may go against human wisdom, but that is okay.  It is signposted by our being kind and compassionate, by our reaching out to our neighbour in their need.  It is a struggle, but one worth fighting.  Thus we find ourselves and the greatness of the life to which we are called.  

Happy solidarity in shopping!