Jesus holds open the door. (Part 3)

Jesus holds open the door

Part 3: The human condition is crushing, but it’s in our nature

So, Christ holds open his arm in love, but what is he doing? He is holding open a door.

How are we, we members of humankind, to cope with the anguish of being human? How do we bear with being ourselves? How do we come to terms with the central truth that we are capable of doing both good and evil, that life can be delightful or terrifying? How do we keep going under the burden of being human? How cope with our sense of loss? With the terrible injustices done to us, with the terrible injustices we inflict on others, with the suffering of those we love? How do we enjoy the wonderful gifts of life, the beauty of creation, the freedom of self-expression – while others suffer agony? How do we cope with the gross injustice that we might have enjoyed all these gifts, but do not? How accept that once these things were ours, but are now lost? How deal with our hatred at those who took them from us? Or cope with our guilt that we lost them through our own greed and stupidity?

Anyone keeping in tune with heart and mind cannot simply congratulate themselves on their good luck, and shrug their shoulders at others: “Bad luck mate”. We cannot just refuse to think about these things and enjoy ourselves. We must not avariciously and fearfully defend our benefits against the claims of those who suffer. We must not glibly dismiss the human lot as all part of the system – again quietly chuckling at our own good fortune – or raging impotently at our misfortune. We cannot just blame others as though we are helpless to act. We must not harden our hearts and close our minds to the cries of others. We must not just give token service to those in need and absolve ourselves – though we hardly dare even consider what that might mean. Neither must we give way to despair, hopelessness or cynicism. Life is a wonderful gift and we must rejoice in it, so we cannot even escape by giving our everything to those who suffer if that entails being lost in anger, weariness or despondency. We must not even salve our conscience with the love of God as though knowing his love is our only priority. We cannot escape into religion, or activism or distraction, or self-indulgence.