Coping With World Disasters Without Superman.

It's been a dark few months in the world. In the wake of every imaginable disaster hitting different continents; political, religious, natural- I feel miniscule and helpless at the thought of it all. What could one person do to stop corruption, or the spread of Ebola, or save lives from terrorism? How can one ease the hurt and loss that plane crashes have caused? Is the one true theme in all these superhero movies the fact that the world is gradually getting worse? What does God think about all this?

How do we manage to keep calm and carry on in the middle of such chaos? I think, somehow, quite comfortably. We watch the news, sigh in dismay, get back into our little bubbles and deal with our own problems, praying that we never have to personally face such a catastrophe. We have no way of telling when one day it will be our country, our families or friends but for now, we all have a part to play in mitigating of the repercussions of these disasters. These are exhortations to myself and to you.

Be informed. The internet and social media allow us extensive access to breaking news all over the globe and this is an opportunity to engage with everything that is going on. Not merely jumping on the bandwagon to express an opinion about a controversial subject but actually buckling down to research issues. It's a means to get deeper factual information not just headlines on how events are affecting peoples lives. Many of us get caught up in the hype then forget once the hash-tag is no longer trending. When it comes to our phones do we cherish the ability to connect more, or the ability to observe from a distance? Our generation's online conversations are shallower than a kiddies pool because entertainment is so much more fun to embrace than reality. To become a people of substance we need to cultivate substance. This means drastically cutting down on researching our favourite sports teams, lurking on exes and supposed haters, on watching our favourite shows and just being absorbed in our own lives and turning our energy to increasing our knowledge of matters of the global community. In a culture that promotes individualism, the tools to ultimate change are found in looking beyond our own comfort and oblivion. We should choose not to be sheltered from circumstances outside our spheres of influence because the world is interdependent and more often than not, the effect of many disasters is widespread. We cannot keep up with every single development but we can make a commitment to stay abreast of one or two issues at a time and share them with others.

Be sympathetic, and I don't mean in a disingenuous "oh wow, it's messed up how planes keep going missing in Malaysia" kind of way, but taking time to meditate on how lives have been lost and changed for the worse. To overcome selfishness, God calls us to bear one another's burdens which is literally carrying that weight of someone else's pain on our shoulders. I read about the origins of Boko Haram a few days ago and ended up getting a headache and borderline depression, thinking about the ineptitude of those who can but refuse to do the right thing. Until recently, I'd have preferred to watch anything but confront the reality of the atrocities and injustices committed on a daily basis, because I felt meditating on it till it ruined my day still wouldn't make a difference. But I realised that to become truly sympathetic, we have to empathise. And it's not comfortable. Embracing other people's pain and allowing our hearts to be broken by it, makes us compassionate people and neighbours in the sincerest sense. The most painful disasters are unforeseen, and we should treat others how we would hope to be treated. I watched an interview between CNN's Dr Sanjay Gupta and USA's CDC Director Dr. John Frieden about the implications of evacuating back Ebola-infected American health workers, and evidently there was a mixture of panic and apprehension in the American response towards this decision. Something Dr Frieden said stuck with me: "I hope people's fear doesn't overcome their compassion." Jesus is the perfect example of compassion,who by leaving his glory, experienced the suffering, weakness and evil of humanity and ultimately conquered death so that through faith in him, we could be saved, endure and also sympathise with others. On the heels of this unprecedented outbreak or the conflict in the Middle East those of us unaffected can easily look the other way with a 'sucks to be you' attitude, and those in regions where it is happening can kick into hysterical self-preservation mode. Neither will help. In a world with so much inequality and a never-ending power struggle, at the root of it all is the heart of mankind. Policies are drafted and laws are put into effect based on the disposition of the heart. Whether we are led by ignorance and apathy or community and kindness, it causes a domino effect. So before we express our indignation at this or that, let us be motivated foremost by love and a desire for the well-being of others.

Get involved. We may not physically be present in West Africa, Malaysia, Ukraine, the Middle East but we can show solidarity not merely with well-intentioned public messages, but in action. In prayer and, where possible, service or financial aid. Prayer is the most formidable weapon because God is not limited by earthly constraints, and in prayer, He strengthens our faith and sharpens our vision. Your resources may not be able to reach all areas but there is always someone in need in your country, community or family. Actively seek them. Give of your time, money, expertise, words of comfort, encouragement, not as a pat to yourself on the back, but out of love and humility. Compassion is not caring when it's convenient but caring in spite of inconvenience.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

-Matthew 25:34-46

Remember that God is sovereign, omnipotent and loving even when bad things happen. This is a bold claim that will irritate the pragmatics that don't believe there is anything to be learned from suffering. The God we serve is just because He is the ultimate good. Choosing sin and rebelling against Him leads to brokenness and a world left to its own devices cannot save itself. That's why He had to send Jesus, the Saviour whose prowess cannot be comprehended by the human mind and whose purpose was set from the beginning of time and will prevail infinitely. He calls on all of us to be empowered and inspired by our knowledge and trust in Him, to be a light in the darkness and always look out of for the good of the lives and souls of others. He assures that He has already overcome evil and no matter how bleak the world looks, He is leading us to an eternity where every wrong will be made right.

Here is Paul's revelation of this eternity: (heaven and hell)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

-Revelations 21:3-8

 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.-Romans 12:12