Do we really get it?

Thailand's tallest building in Bangkok

As I passed a spot well-known to me, early one recent morning, I happened to look up and saw a sight that immediately took my attention.  I had to take a photo and place it on Facebook, which I did.  It attracted many Likes and some interesting comments. 

A few commented on how quiet the street was for Bangkok.  One comment hinted at it being late at night.  Good guess but it was rather early morning, before the masses hit the streets.  Another comment made me smile as the question was - Is this building falling apart or is it meant to look like that?  

I smiled as this building was constructed at great expense to be not just the country's tallest building, but one of its most creative and outstanding ones.  The locals refer to it as the Jigsaw Building.  

During the same week, I read a recent line of Pope Francis that stays with me.  He said - "In today's world, the feelings of belonging to the same humanity are weakening" (Fratelli Tutti 30).  I think, 'how true'.   

I was then talking with a good friend about a world that seems to be less caring about the plight of the other.  As we lose our sense of connectedness, we will care less.  We agreed that we live in a less caring world.  There is a war in Ukraine.  Who really cares?  There is a war in Sudan.  Who really cares?  There is a war in Myanmar.  Who really cares?  

Yet the truth is that, as we care less about the other, so we impact more negatively upon our own plight.  This is because the reality is that all of humanity is interconnected.  We all belong together.  The truth is that, as chaos or catastrophe hits one part of humanity, so it impacts upon all of humanity.  If we believe we can protect or hide ourselves from the plight suffered by the rest of humanity, we are living in a fool's paradise.   . 

As the human race is seemingly tearing itself apart, for whatever reason, a related prophecy is given by Francis - "The dream of building justice and peace seems like a utopia of another era".  

Do we really get it?  Or do we just see flawed buildings which, in truth are works of art?