Woes of the World

Sometimes tragedy and suffering around the world just seems to erupt doesn’t it? All the death and suffering from conflict in Gaza and Israel, Ukraine and other areas of conflict. Earthquakes in Afghanistan, Morocco, and Turkey. Gun violence, hate crimes, illness. The list of tragedy and suffering seems endless.

Who could blame us if we were raging angry all the time at everything?

Or who could blame us if we decided to live in blissful ignorance, focused on the happy and inspirational?

Both are responses people make. But are these our only choices? Are these how Christians are to respond?

Finding a third way isn’t easy. This is in part because none of us can significantly affect, let alone fix one of these huge problems. The woes of the world are complex. They have complicated origins and complicated solutions. We would prefer a brilliant, comprehensive, straightforward plan of action, don’t we? And we want the problem solved quickly and with minimal disruption to us. The truth is no one person or one government or one agency can do that. And of course, not everyone wants a solution to the problems of the world or a nation or even a town- it’s too expensive, it changes the status quo, someone has to give up power or wealth.

What can we do?

I think what we can do, perhaps the only thing we can do, is attend to the work in front of us. To do that which is ours to do. We do the next right thing where we are. At the same time, this often feels inadequate to me. The fact that this doesn’t seem to be enough, has more to do with my ego desiring to be queen of everything rather than accepting that this is the reality of how the world works.

The world seems to be designed to be deeply communal and collaborative. One or two of us can’t fix big problems. But all of us working together can. Recall diseases that have been eradicated. Remember places of war and conflict that are now more peaceful. It does happen.It’s slow work. It’s sacrificial work.

One of our big clues for what to do is to notice how Jesus lived in the world. He prayed. He healed. He fed the people. He invited people back into community. He advocated for justice in his teaching and actions. Jesus asks us to do the same. For some reason, our participation, small as it is, matters.

Beloved, all the troubles and suffering of people in the world is overwhelming. John Wesley had a suggestion that still holds true.

Small acts encourage other small acts. Kindness begets kindness. Love begets love. In all the places we can. In all the ways we can. With all the people we can. As long as ever we can.