Question: What would I actually want to ask Jesus? I'd ask, How are we doing?
Are we enough? Is there more ignorance than compassion in humanity, or are we lovers gaining momentum? Even when life is hard, like it was for Jesus and Mary, are we ultimately part of a story of salvation rippling out from their story of grace? How can we just remember that? How come I can be shown over and over again, given beautiful messages from Heaven, yet still feel so afraid of poverty and sickness? I guess I would tell him how scared I get, how much I love him, and how much I attempt to embody his love as steward of this creation. I appreciate your page, this is very much how I believe Jesus wants to be known. Thanks, Desiree
Dear Desiree, I am so grateful for your questions. I can't imagine a more relevant and vulnerable inquiry with which to inaugurate these conversations. Thank you for that!
One of the reasons I love your question is that it speaks directly to the idea of hope. What is the trajectory of humanity? Are we, as a species, moving toward or away from our better selves? How do we navigate toward peace in the midst of all the suffering around us? These questions have an existential gravity that is impossible to ignore and that cries out for a human response.
I have never been a big fan of whistling in the dark or of leaning on platitudes in moments of difficulty but let me begin by saying that I am very hopeful about our future. I am keenly aware of the deep suffering throughout the world and of the enormous pain that people are capable of inflicting on each other and on the earth. These are realities and they should not be denied. But they are not the ONLY realities. The modern age has made it very easy to give in to fear and to adopt a pessimistic view of humanity. We are encouraged to take this view hundreds of times every day when we hear of some tragedy or natural disaster, or see the news about soaring crime rates and injustices occurring in every corner of the planet.
Given this context of being inundated with all that is wrong with the world, it is no wonder that so many people mistake this to be the true nature of things. What gets missed, what doesn't make the nightly news, what gives me great reason to be hopeful about where all of this is going are the billions of selfless acts of kindness and grace that occur in the world every day! Humanity at its core is filled with extraordinary light, and this light shines in places and ways every day that are far too numerous to count. In London, a young man stops what he is doing to help an old woman cross the street. In Haiti, children welcome a new friend into their soccer game. In Panama, a compassionate hug is given to a sick man. In Portland, donations are taken for a family in need. On and on it goes every day without mention. The capacity for kindness, generosity and love in people everywhere is beyond comprehension and far outweighs their lapses into selfishness.
There is darkness in the world, but people are good and beautiful. Think about yourself, when you encounter darkness or suffering. Your tendency is to bring light and compassion, is it not? By far, the vast majority of people share that same response. We want to help, we want to soothe and heal and comfort if we can. The modern age has created an interconnected-ness that exposes us to a much wider array of suffering than we knew before. But it also opens our hearts in compassion to reaches we did not know we could attain.
Fear – your fears and mine – are a part of what it means to be human. It is important to notice our fears because they can serve as a guide into areas where we need to grow or soften. So be kind to yourself when you feel fear. Stop for a moment and breathe. Then move forward in love. Keep shining your light and I'll keep shining mine. It is all there to be seen. We just have to learn a new way of seeing!
Are we enough? Is there more ignorance than compassion in humanity, or are we lovers gaining momentum? Even when life is hard, like it was for Jesus and Mary, are we ultimately part of a story of salvation rippling out from their story of grace? How can we just remember that? How come I can be shown over and over again, given beautiful messages from Heaven, yet still feel so afraid of poverty and sickness? I guess I would tell him how scared I get, how much I love him, and how much I attempt to embody his love as steward of this creation. I appreciate your page, this is very much how I believe Jesus wants to be known. Thanks, Desiree
Dear Desiree, I am so grateful for your questions. I can't imagine a more relevant and vulnerable inquiry with which to inaugurate these conversations. Thank you for that!
One of the reasons I love your question is that it speaks directly to the idea of hope. What is the trajectory of humanity? Are we, as a species, moving toward or away from our better selves? How do we navigate toward peace in the midst of all the suffering around us? These questions have an existential gravity that is impossible to ignore and that cries out for a human response.
I have never been a big fan of whistling in the dark or of leaning on platitudes in moments of difficulty but let me begin by saying that I am very hopeful about our future. I am keenly aware of the deep suffering throughout the world and of the enormous pain that people are capable of inflicting on each other and on the earth. These are realities and they should not be denied. But they are not the ONLY realities. The modern age has made it very easy to give in to fear and to adopt a pessimistic view of humanity. We are encouraged to take this view hundreds of times every day when we hear of some tragedy or natural disaster, or see the news about soaring crime rates and injustices occurring in every corner of the planet.
Given this context of being inundated with all that is wrong with the world, it is no wonder that so many people mistake this to be the true nature of things. What gets missed, what doesn't make the nightly news, what gives me great reason to be hopeful about where all of this is going are the billions of selfless acts of kindness and grace that occur in the world every day! Humanity at its core is filled with extraordinary light, and this light shines in places and ways every day that are far too numerous to count. In London, a young man stops what he is doing to help an old woman cross the street. In Haiti, children welcome a new friend into their soccer game. In Panama, a compassionate hug is given to a sick man. In Portland, donations are taken for a family in need. On and on it goes every day without mention. The capacity for kindness, generosity and love in people everywhere is beyond comprehension and far outweighs their lapses into selfishness.
There is darkness in the world, but people are good and beautiful. Think about yourself, when you encounter darkness or suffering. Your tendency is to bring light and compassion, is it not? By far, the vast majority of people share that same response. We want to help, we want to soothe and heal and comfort if we can. The modern age has created an interconnected-ness that exposes us to a much wider array of suffering than we knew before. But it also opens our hearts in compassion to reaches we did not know we could attain.
Fear – your fears and mine – are a part of what it means to be human. It is important to notice our fears because they can serve as a guide into areas where we need to grow or soften. So be kind to yourself when you feel fear. Stop for a moment and breathe. Then move forward in love. Keep shining your light and I'll keep shining mine. It is all there to be seen. We just have to learn a new way of seeing!
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