I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the state of the world. I keep having these recurring anxiety dreams about fuel and food shortages, and part of me wants to fearfully jump to the conclusion that the world is on the verge of utter chaos and collapse. The other part of me tells myself that people throughout history have faced times of uncertainty and our generation is no different. The world may end tomorrow, but life on earth may continue for hundreds of thousands of years. The question is, how will we respond. How will I live in the face of uncertain times?
Today I read a reflection by Filipino sociologist and theologian Melba Maggay that reminded me of the simplicity of God’s requirement of God’s people in such a time as this. The words of the prophet Micah ring as true today as they did thousands of years ago, “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
I had an interesting conversation yesterday with a friend about how I feel like America is being humbled, and how I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. We have been THE global superpower for nearly 20 years and risen to a place of international dominance, but at what cost? We’ve built our homes with money we don’t have, grown multinational corporations on the backs of the poor in other countries who’ve benefited little and sometimes been enslaved to produce the goods we consume, and exploited natural resources around the world to live in excessive comfort and luxury. Don’t we deserve to be humbled? But my friend reminded me that neither is it helpful to throw up our hands and condemn America and believe that we just have to endure what God has coming to us. When the Lord saw cities and nations full of injustice he did not delight in destroying them and squashing them beneath his all-powerful feet; rather, he gave them the opportunity to humble themselves and repent. The Lord sent Jonah to Ninevah. The Lord Jesus himself wept over Jerusalem and longed to see her surrender herself to God’s parental care.
So, I think I’ve decided that I don’t just want to be another cynical voice despising America, using my international travels and adventures in foreign lands to justify myself as different and progressive. I can’t vindicate myself from mainstream America’s overpowering arrogance and complicity in global economic and environmental injustice. All I can do is humble myself, and hope that we can yet become a nation that seeks the kingdom of God. Perhaps there’s a streak of patriotism in me after all.
