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!    

Building Trust

I watched, in total fascination, a 15 minute report on AI and religion, aired on Deutsche Welle, last week.  It quoted a staggering figure of 2.16 Euros profit, made in 2024, from Spiritual Wellness Apps.  In the USA, one in three adults use these Apps for support during times of grief, relationship difficulty and financial hardship. Information is gathered from such use to then help establish Virtual Church.  Amazing!  Then there isthe  AI priest, the AI Buddha and even the AI Jesus.  What is all this leading to? 

I will not be the Aussie cynic nor will I simply deny the value of AI.  Neither is the way to go.  In line with the guidance of both the Church and the UN, AI is to be used responsibly and ethically, as a tool for advacing the common good of humanity. 

This post is not about AI, but really about trust.  During the past week, I particpated in a workshop on the use of AI in our work.  I saw how its misuse could destroy trust as its abuse could lead to serious questioning of one 's integrity.  

Is that homily yours? 

Did you really write that proposal or article?  

Any good relationship, strong community or decent world order has to be based on trust.  This issue of trust arose also during the past week, when participating in meetings on helping people in a time when funds are radically lacking.  It struck me the core issue was not funding itself, but trust.  

These discussions on funding arose within the present, chaotic climate created by the unilateral and immediate withdrawal of a major, aid funder on the world scene.  As a response, I was hearing various, professional players, in the field, speak in desperation.  

Does this mean that each player just looks after itself?  

Does it reduce the bonds of professional cooperation?  

Do we trust each other enough to take risks, to be honest, or is it all just about getting our money?  

Do times of difficulty and challenge, whether personal or corprate, reduce our life and actions to the lowest common denominator or do they instill in us the will to struggle even harder, to come together ever stronger?  

The questions go even deeper.  Do we allow ourselves to be vulnerable with each other, to bear our fragility in front of others?  

Do I realise that I am no better than anyone else?  Am I that brutally honest?  Only then can I and we build a trust that is lasting, that speaks of the gospel vision for life.  Trust is fundamental.  Building trust is not just about others.  It is about me.  How do I fare being trustworthy and engendering trust.  Don't expect others to do it for me or instead of me.  Do my bit to better myself and the world. 

Such levels of trust are frightening, but they are needed for a life that is rich and nourishing.  We are being drawn, in our crazy world, to more threatening levels of truat that are simultaneously deeply personal and deeply communal.  Are we up to this?  Trust in God, trust in the other, trust in myself.  It is needed for my sake, if no one else's.  

The Land of Oz

My boyhood featured a wondrous fairytale, played out in the Magical Land of Oz.  It came my way thanks to a cult movie, featuring Judy Garland and Toto, her faithful dog.  It was immortalized by an ever rousing and inspiring song, "Somewhere over the Rainbow", which attuned one to the human quest for happiness.  This was a quest that was eternal, never being squashed by the dramas and conspiracies of lived reality.  

A close friend, now dead, alerted me to the value of fantasy, for it helps keep life's energies pumping. It would seem that in today's crazy world, fantasy is needed more than ever, as a tool in keeping the big vision for humanity alive.  

 As we look at our world, many struggle to make sense of it, while others thrive and prosper thanks to its perceived craziness or nonsense.  What was thought to be "the bad, old days" is fastly becoming reality, while reality is being driven more and more by the hands of the few.  In the midst of such rapid and unwanted change, the age old question arises - What is real?   We ask this as reality is fastly passing us by.  

The Velveteen Rabbbit had the answer.  Real is when you have become ragged and messed up thanks to persevering the lived struggles of love.  Very seldom do we need lectures about life and love.  What we yearn for more is to be loved and to have our eyes opened to the wonder and awe of life, knowing that all is possible within a reality that can too easily fail and ravage us.  .    

Can we believe that love is real in today's world?  Can we identify the wonder and awe in our everyday lives?  If not, then there is something wrong with our world, something wrong with us, for the wonders of a boy can never be denied or doomed.  .   

Our Role is Vital

At the invitation of Caritas International, I spent three days last week at a high-level, regional consultancy of the United Nations.  It was a first for me, a real opportunity to observe close-up the workings of the UN.  

It was a UNODC consultancy, focused on crime prevention and sustainable development in a digital age.  It was beyond my normal scope of competency, but I was there and made the most of it.  In doing so, I learnt so much.  I saw how the world deals with the big issues, purposefully coming up with global agreements, which are more than just glossy, motherhood statements.  I could see they serve a real purpose, giving the world benchmarks for acceptable, social behaviour.  

As I returned to my normal routine, a simple question struck me.  Without giving any thought, I will just name it.    

As we look at online, criminal behaviour, why aren't mums and dads simply asking Mary or Johnny the big questions?  Asking, "Where were you the last six hours, when you should have been here doing your homework?"  

Cannot the big questions and challenges of life be dealt with by good, basic care and concern at the grassroots level?  

What happens in our good world to make it so crazy and even bad for some?  Our human challenge is to be in the marketplace, making a difference, making a contribution in creating a better world.  We are always needed, even more so when so much is going topsy-turvy. 

Dear God, I am a little guy in a big world, may I never lose sight of how vital is my role in your design for your realm, not mine.  

Running on Empty

"Running on Empty" was a great, Jackson Browne song from 1977.  It reflects upon what happens to us when we just run forever on our own steam - performing day in, day out, without a break, without a real purpose.  Eventually, we will run out of energy and become empty.  Reality is we need more than our own selves in life.  Truth is much more is available to keep us going.  

Life is not defined by continuous work; nor by mere survival and coping.  Life takes us much further than what we just experience on the surface.  Life goes beyond the boundaries of its everyday craziness.  Do we appreciate who we are and what we belong to?  The human narrative, within the overall divine scheme.  Or do we just stay on empty?  

God is so good to me, sustaining me, nourishing me and so much more, no matter what I do. I may ask - Why me?  Maybe any rightful hesitation on my part is not about stopping still and doubting, but meeting the challenge of continuing the search for true life and meaning.  

Jackson Browne takse us beyond staying on empty.  There is no point to staying there.  Find then what fills us and keep on moving.  If what is in our life is empty, look to turn it around, throw it out and transform life into what it is meant to be, running on full.  Siempre avanti!      

We are connected

My Bangkok is a huge city, but such a small world.  

Last week, this lovely American family, new to Bangkok, invited me to their home. I found my visit to be just a delightful experience, being so impressed by their three beautiful children.  

Later in the week, I attended a dinner celebrating 50 years of marriage of a couple from church.  I just know them as two dear and simple people who come to church every Sunday.  Being at their dinner, I got a fuller picture of who they were and realized, to my great surprise, how well connected they are in Bangkok.    

Their connections went as far as their touching the life of that same lovely family, I had visited earlier in the week.  I was gobsmacked.   Both families lived in the same neighbourhood, each travelling so far every Sunday to come to the same church.  It was now my mission to connect them. 

On Sunday, I could see that they already knew each other, but how well?  My litmus test and aim was to get the three lovely children onto an elephant.  Huh?  

Yes, that is right.  You see, the wedding couple was having three elephants come to their local park as part of the party they were hosting on Sunday, for their 50th.  By chance, this same park is shared by the family, with the three children, who could then go ride an elephant in the afternoon.  They would love it.  Is that what happened?  

Bangkok is a small world.  One of my jobs is to connect its lovely people.       

Meeting God

I met God on the weekend.  He had a kind face, a smile and a great outlook on life and his future, in the face of personal tragedy.  Artur was his name.  He came my way through Caritas.  His mother had sent us an email, reaching out for help in her desperation.  Her son, a young  Ukrainian, had come to Thailand.  A year ago, in Phuket, where he was living, he met near death after a taxi wiped him out on his motor bike, at a roundabout.  Seemingly, his life was at an end.   

On hearing of her son's accident, his mother raced from Germany, where she was living as a refugee from war.  There pursued much medical care and, a year later, Artur has been left paralysed from the chest down. So I can only imagine his rising plight - uncertainties aurrounding income and support, surviving in a foreign country from which he presently has no escape, his daily suffering, the list goes on.   

After being with Artur for 30 minutes, I realised that I had just met God.  Despite having faced death and all that has arisen since his fateful accident, or because of it, he now sat before me, smiling, strong and hopeful.  What a hero!  He talked about starting a new job online.  He spoke realisitically and with hope about what can be for him and where he can go in life.  Much promise!  Much life to be lived!  He has not become a victim of his plight.  Rather, he has risen above it.  He is a sign of hope in our world, hope unfailing.  Hope does not disappoint.  I truly did meet God.  

Do we miss out on the many opportunities that come our way to meet God?  Do we too easily deny ourselves this privilehge, wiping it away, thinking it is only for others much greater, holier or more special?  If we do, we miss out on so much in life which can too easily become routine and hopeless, and fall away before we know it.  .  

In case you may think I am losing the plot or becoming overcome with pride, I would like to share someone else's story. It is a story from Russia on the coming of Jesus. 

At the beginning of Advent, Pyotr said to his children, “On Christmas Eve, Jesus will visit us.”

They asked, “What does he look like?” 

And the reply came, “I do not know.  But you might be blind and not recognize him.  So pray without ceasing: Jesus, Son of David; Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.  Don’t let me be blind.” 

On Christmas Eve, someone knocked at the door.  Pyotr ran and opened it.  A nasty smell poured into the room.  There was a beggar in rags and full of sores.  Pyotr welcomed him with reverence, washed him and bound up his wounds and sores, and gave him a new suit of clothes.  He set him down at the table and served him supper. 

Then his children came and asked, “Papa, when is Jesus coming?”

Papa started crying, “Children, are you still blind?  Didn’t you pray rightly?” 

May I, a sinner, be ever humble enough to meet God.