Thursday, January 02, 2025

New Year Wishes

When 2025 dawned, we all sent each other messages such as “Happy New Year”, “Peace”, “Blessings”, “Prosperity”, “Wealth”, “Health”, …, or something of the sort, something good.  Seeing what is happening in the world, no wonder we wish the world is better.  



In Gaza, it is still occupied by the Israeli army, people continue to die and suffer, with no end in sight. 

In Ukraine, the Russian army continues to occupy a large part of the east, and in fact, is threatening to escalate the war. 

In Syria, one dictator is deposed; much uncertainty remains, at least the people seem to be happier than before. 

In Sudan, the civil war continues, with a large number of people facing the threat of famine. 

In Myanmar, civil war continues. In the mid-2010s, the country was opening up and prospects were promising.  Not anymore.  We took students there for service-learning projects several times in the 2010s; not anymore. 

In Iran, women in particular, are still facing an oppressive environment. My wife and I enjoyed visiting Iran years ago. We are not sure about going there now.  

In Afghanistan, a repressive environment continues, with women suffering the most, apparently. 

In Somalia, armed conflicts continue.  

Dictators and would-be dictators rule so many countries. 

Poverty, discrimination, injustice, oppression, hatred abound in so many places.  

 

But do we really believe that the world will get better? If wishes do come true, why do we have to make the same wishes every year?  


Looking at it from another angle, do we actually make serious efforts to make our wishes a reality?  For those of us who wish for “world peace”, do we make any serious efforts to bring peace any closer?  If we don’t, do we have the rights to wish that it will happen?  If we don’t, aren’t we not saying, in effect: “You people should go and make peace, I will just watch and hope to enjoy the fruits of your labour.”?


Some Christians may say that we cannot do anything, but God can.  So all we can and should do is to pray.  However, consider this: Doesn’t Jesus teach us to love our neighbours, to feed the poor, to visit those in prison, to love justice, to be agents of peace? 


Some Christians seem to believe that the world is un-savage-able.  That the world is destined to get worse, no matter what we do. So it is futile to try to improve the world, as it is.  In fact, the worse the world gets, the better - because the faster will Jesus Christ return.  That is a very cynical world view.  That also goes against all we understand of justice and love.  


Assuming that we do mean what we say when we wish for world peace, what are we going to do about it?  If we don’t plan to do anything, what right do we have to wish for it?  


In the end, what do we do?  Stop making wishes that we do not intend to help to make happen?  Or to actually try to make these lofty wishes come true?  






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