Unveiling the Light

Today’s news is all about the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. It recaps how bad this disaster was and how much of the damage remains in New Orleans. Interspaced with this we have new hurricane watches as the nation braces itself for the next disaster. It this does not get you nervous enough, recent programs have speculated about killer tsunamis off the West Coast, levee collapses in Northern California, earthquakes, and even a super volcanic eruption in Yellow Stone. We seem to be a nation braced and waiting for disaster.

The reality is that we live in one of the most peaceful eras of our history and that our standard of living and economy have never been so good. We are a prosperous nation that is growing in strength. Our young people are able to plan out their lives without consideration of involuntary service in the military and with little chance of catastrophic economic or world events interfering in their lives. We are living longer, retiring earlier, and have freedom that is unmatched in the world to go where we want, when we want, and to do pretty much what we want. Yes, we have had some major disturbing events such as 9-11 and the Iraq war, but these pale in comparison to what past generations have faced up to.

Why then does it seem that we look at the world with fear, waiting for the next disaster to occur? Why are we so unable to enjoy our blessings but keep looking to what might go wrong? We have little faith in our government with both the presidency and congress receiving near record low approval ratings. We have even less faith in those that report the news and seem to expect that those wielding power are corrupt and inept. How did past generations make it through world wars, nuclear bomb scares, epidemic sicknesses and social upheaval when we seem to have such a hard time accepting what is, by comparison, golden years in our country’s history?

Along the same lines, why do so many Americans mourn so loudly for the loss of a celebrity? When Princess Diana died, many reacted with deep grief, as if they had lost a dear friend. The same happened with John Lennon and other great celebrities. These people were popular and part of our culture, but we did not have a personal relationship with them and they, for the most part, were unaware even of our existence; yet we mourned as if we had lost a brother or sister.

Could it be that when we fret over possible disasters, we allow ourselves to feel helpless and victimized? Certainly we did not cause the disaster that could affect us so much. But while we join in the suffering of the small minority actually affected by disaster, we allow ourselves the indulgence of victim hood even while we fail to take action in these areas of our lives where we could head off disaster. We excuse ourselves where we can make a difference and fall victim to circumstances we cannot control.

By "suffering" at the loss of celebrities we find a safe means of expressing ourselves without risking true emotional pain. Our feelings cannot be labeled inappropriate by celebrities who do not know us and we are able to control the emotions to save ourselves from feeling real pain. It is easier to feel frightened for the fate of thousands of people on the opposite end of the country than to examine our own relations with spouse, family, and friends. It is easier to feel loss for a social icon than to examine and realize the loss of people who are or should be truly important in our own lives. We protect and excuse ourselves by concentrating on those things we cannot control and which do not affect us directly, while avoiding issues and people with whom we have real influence and who can make us vulnerable to true pain.

This all comes down to the lack of family and community relations so prevalent in the West. We have constantly held high the idea of stoicism, the philosophy that we can individually bear and endure all, without depending on others. We have isolated ourselves in our homes, cars and private offices and shun public events that call for us to get involved. "Leave me alone with my life," seems to be our motto. So we live within ourselves, enduring problems alone and keeping our emotions to ourselves; until a celebrity faces tragedy or a disaster hits somewhere. Then we allow ourselves to feel part of something that has little to do with us. We retain full control and when we express our inner feelings it is in a controlled and safe manner. How much safer can we be than when we align ourselves with people who have no relations with us?

One of the tasks of the Church today is to reconnect people with each other. We are called to live in connected families, within supportive communities. We are called to be part of something larger than ourselves. This means we have to extend ourselves towards others and lend ourselves to those in need. Such action means giving up some control or perhaps realizing that our attempts at control are futile anyway. Life is full of surprises and challenges. By engaging them on a personal basis we allow ourselves to grow as human beings. By seeking unity with others in real relationships we are challenged to grow and obtain new understandings. Life is a continual learning process and only those who engage in this education will find true happiness.

In the Church we follow the lead of Jesus who is always found among disciples, crowds and the needy. Jesus allowed himself to become part of the lives around him. He extended himself and made himself vulnerable as He sought out the good in people. He suffered for doing so but never strayed from his path. Where would we be if Jesus kept to himself and only mourned events happening far away? Where would we be if He decided to retain full control and not become vulnerable to the people around him? There would be no crucifixion, no Resurrection and no hope for human kind.

Jesus is the example we are supposed to follow. By fully engaging life, close and personal, we learn about ourselves and those who journey with us. When we realize that life is not ours to control, we begin to place our trust where it belongs, in God. "Let go and let God." This fine slogan tells us to let go of control so that we can allow God to work in our lives. It tells us to not be afraid to engage life. Indeed, we need to embrace it all; the good and the bad; the joy and the pain, the life we are given and the death that awaits us. It is all good if it is all lived to the fullest in God. Then we have no need for false mourning, exaggerated danger or other escapism techniques. We will have God and life and that is all we need. That is what life is all about.