Merry Christmas--We're on the Brink of Another War!
Residents of New Jersey know that they live in one of the most densely populated regions of North America and yet, an area, where for the most part, people stay pretty clear of others and mind their own business, preferring rather to look inward, to family, business and self. Their cars, their homes and offices are the safe havens from the world. How many of us dare to enter certain areas even of our own counties where we know we might face danger? We do not. In some cases the only interaction we have or want to have with the world outside is through TV and Internet. An aspect of the modern world that I ponder is the fascination with "virtual reality ."Our youngsters sit riveted before computer screens, their minds immersed in worlds that don't exist, manipulating the lives and fortunes of electronic blips with a tap of their fingers on the keyboard (Runescape anyone?). In essence, we live in a virtual world where the true effects of reality on life and human existence are digitized, sanitized, and minimalized. The electronic media have allowed us not only to participate in "virtual sports," but to watch floods in Venezuela without feeling a drop of water, to see hurricanes hit the Bahamas without feeling the faintest breeze, to see people starving, beaten, and killed without remorse.
Today, sharing this "artificial" worldview, many fellow Americans are calling for an invasion and attack on a Middle Eastern nation, sanctioning the death of perhaps thousands of people, men, women and children. Is this for a common good, or, is it a "buying response" to a carefully packaged and promoted product? Have we even begun to feel or think about the effects of our actions in that region of the world? Reality and perception are not synonymous!
The "reality" is that thousands of children in Iraq have starved and continue to starve to death because of Western blockades; similar to the ones Turkey imposes on Armenia. I am not talking about politics, but about our indifference to others and their suffering. What do we feel? Can we truly relate to "them'? Do we want to? Do we try? I recently saw a bumper sticker on a truck heading West on route 80, positioned perfectly under another sticker of the Star Spangled Banner which read, "Nuk'em' George." Is this what we want? It seems that through virtual technology and our isolation from the rest of the world in which we live, we became first de-sensitized to "reality" and now worse, de-humanized! Is that mentality any different than the zeal of so-called terrorists? I don't think so.
Now, you may be thinking; "why is Der Hayr saying all this in his "Christmas" issue of Gantegh? Isn't he supposed to make us feel good? Isn't he supposed to talk about the cute little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes?" Isn't he supposed to give us "Points of Light?" Read on.
God Himself did not deal with us in a "virtual reality." He didn't isolate Himself. He entered our reality, with all its shame, all its despair, all its poverty, all its filth, all its sin. He did not say, "They deserve what they get. They fell short of my glory, Nuk'em!" He did not avoid those who were unworthy of Him. No! He became the just for the unjust and let the repentant harlot wash His feet with her tears. He did not hate what was strange and deny that which was different. He became the Good Samaritan. He forgave those who hated Him. He did hot Stay distant in His heaven. He came to redeem that which was lost, to make His eternal dwelling "in" and among us so that we might have our eternal dwelling "in" and with Him. He became like us by nature so that we could become like Him by grace. Being rich in His Divinity, He became poor in His humanity, so that we who are poor in our humanity might become rich in His Divinity. By becoming one of us, from womb to tomb, He entered our reality so that we might enter His! This is the miracle of Christmas, the joy that fills us with indescribable awe every time we bow down and worship the Holy and precious Child. To Him be glory and praise now and always unto the ages, Amen.
Christ is Born and Revealed. Blessed is the Revelation of Christ. Prayerfully, In His Love, Der Shnork
