By NANCY PATRICK

Living in today’s world seems more difficult than living in other historical times. Logic, however, defies that assessment. I think most of us tend to see our own world as the only one of relevance or importance; however, if we reflect on world history, we see that moral, political, religious, military, and cultural conflicts have filled the past.

Science tells us that we human beings are destroying our own planet. Even though some holdouts deny the devastation of the climate that has changed the science of weather, geography, health, and botany, most of us at least recognize disturbing signs of the planet’s evolution.

We recognize global warming’s negative effects. We see the destruction of species of sea life as the oceans fill will our garbage. Each year brings more extreme weather—whether floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, or fires. Much of our pollution damages the atmosphere, creating health risks for people and animals.  

 The political climates around the world are dangerously aggressive and confrontational. Neither a political scientist nor a social activist, I have become much more interested in such issues over the past two or three decades as I have recognized a tendency of governments to insert themselves more and more into areas of life that I have never thought of as political.

I know from watching too much “news” on television that much of the world shares my anxiety about loss of personal freedom and the desire of many to create tribes rather than community. Human beings seem to have an innately competitive spirit. I fear that making all of life a competition breeds jealousy, envy, distrust, ambition, and greed.

The United States currently faces its own humanitarian crisis as thousands of migrants enter the country through the southern border. Bordering states fear the burden of meeting basic needs of these people who enter the country with only the clothes on their backs.

Consequently, outrage has prompted some governors to bus large groups of these human beings to northern states in an attempt to highlight the unfairness of the burden on the southern border. These migrants have no understanding of the American crisis, nor do they care since they fled their own countries in desperation.  

Two years ago, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine infuriated me. Bully governments assume the right to invade, kill, and steal what belongs to others in weaker nations. When Hamas’ terrorists raided an Israeli music festival in October, I became obsessed with the situation in the Mideast.

Try as I might, I cannot understand hatred that goes bone marrow deep or perhaps I should say blood deep. I have researched information about Palestine and Israel, and I have reflected on the historical accounts in the Bible. I once thought the conflict simply grew out of Abraham’s disaster when he fathered Ishmael by Hagar, thus bypassing God’s promise for a son with Sarah.

I thought that Ishmael was the father of the Palestinians and therefore Islam while Isaac was the father of the Hebrew nation and thus Judaism. I now realize that the conflict goes much deeper than that. I have also learned that whatever happens in that part of the world reaches beyond my own understanding. 

I have to accept the fact that some situations, no matter how personally disturbing to me, reach beyond my empathy. I cannot empathize with cultures to which I do not belong. I can sympathize until my heart breaks, but I cannot become one with another culture.

Fellow contributor to Spirit of Abilene, Jim Nichols recently referred to his attempt to research and understand the problems of the Middle East. He confessed that the situation there extends beyond his understanding. 

I, too, tried to glean some understanding of that region’s animosities but also bowed out after realizing that many of those involved in the actual conflict refuse to even seek a resolution. I listened to one woman say that she hated all those on the other side and had no compassion or room in her heart for any of them. Watching the hardness in her face and the coldness of her voice made me realize the utter “lostness” of many people.

While mourning all the deaths, tortures, kidnappings, bombings, and destruction of foreign cultures, I must relinquish my questioning to the God to whom I pray. Living together in peace and worshipping different gods seems impossible. 

I appreciate interfaith groups around the world that try to bring different “tribes” together under the umbrella of humanity and illustrate that people, regardless of their spiritual beliefs, can respect those of a different faith.

Sometimes the vehicle that brings me a semblance of peace is music. One such piece of music is a song by Matt Maher that soothes my spirit when I listen to it as I walk the meditation labyrinth my husband built in our backyard. Though rooted in the Christian faith, the song adapts easily to fit another “god” or creed. 

The song illustrates our hopelessness and helplessness without the presence and power of a supreme being who provides the only path to a humanity in which we can respect everyone’s right to exist. I hope the words and tune will bless your heart and soothe your anxiety.

Click on the link to hear and see the video:   https://youtu.be/LuvfMDhTyMA

Nancy Patrick is a retired teacher who lives in Abilene and enjoys writing