A letter from Doug Dicks in Jordan
December 17, 2011
Dear Family and Friends,
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined (Isaiah 9:2).
During this season of Advent, and only days before Christmas, who can read the Biblical texts from the book of Isaiah and not recall the events that have unfolded, not only in the Middle East, but around the entire world, this past year?
The Arab Awakening, known locally as the Arab "Spring"—which neither began in the Spring nor was confined to just one season—has turned the Middle East both upside down—and inside out.
And it's not over yet!
From Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, to St. Paul's Cathedral in London, England, and Occupy Wall Street in New York City, it appears as though people have awakened from a deep sleep to a new sense of people power and are risking both lives and limbs to exert pressure on their respective governments in calling for significant change—an end to corruption, economic disparity, joblessness, hunger, corporate greed and greater government accountability. As stock markets rise and fall and countries in Europe teeter on economic collapse, our world seems to move from crisis to crisis, with no real leadership on the world scene to address, once and for all, these global issues. The overarching question remains: Will all of these street protests and this anger lead to good governance on the part of world leaders or simply to unending discontent and chaos?
One year ago today a young Tunisian man by the name of Mohamed Bouazizi set himself alight after police humiliated him and confiscated his pushcart and wares. He was simply trying to make a humble living in a city, in a country, in a world that was unwilling to allow him to do so. This one single act, though tragic in both its scope and its consequences, lit a spark that spread throughout the Arab world—and beyond.
One can almost hear the ancient plea of "How long, O Lord?" from Psalm 13.
...But I trusted in YOUR steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in YOUR salvation (Psalm 13:5).
On a recent visit to Bethlehem, Palestine, I heard hope expressed, over and over again. Several people said to me that they were not "optimistic"; however, they did say they had "hope." Yet how does one provide "hope" to the younger generation in situations that appear to be hopeless? How does one distinguish between optimism and hope? It is living into HOPE that is perhaps the greatest challenge for the church in the Middle East—and I suspect for the entire world—today, in these times of uncertainty, doubt, fear, want and despair.
Yet, the Christmas story found in Luke provides us all with the assurance of God's love for us, and God's will that we live lives that are worth living.
“Fear not” are the words the angels first spoke to humble shepherds two millennia ago. Do not be afraid!
In a broken, restless world, full of broken people, just like us, all redeemed by God's grace, the child of Bethlehem continues to provide us with and instill in us hope. Jesus Christ is both our hope and our peace.
For HE is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us (Ephesians 2:14).
As we make our spiritual journey toward the manger of Bethlehem in these waning days of Advent, we take comfort—and hope—in the child of Bethlehem, born into a restless world that, though centuries apart, was probably not unlike our own.
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon HIS shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. HIS authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore (Isaiah 9: 6–7).
The Christians, and indeed all peoples of the Middle East, are longing for justice in the Holy Land today. But following Christ demands unequivocally, “love your enemies; do good to those who hate you.” And in the words of the Bethlehem Call, issued last week from the Kairos Palestine group, “. . . victims and perpetrators cannot be put on equal footing in efforts to create illusions of balance. . . . In love we rage against injustice and yet refuse to be destroyed by our anger.”
In this world you will have trouble, but take heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
In an age of empire, overcoming the world is what we as Christians are called to do. Not to conform to the world, but to overcome it.
It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
In this season of giving, and of “peace on earth, goodwill to all,” may we have a greater awareness of those around us—in our church, in our communities, in our societies and in our world—and respond whenever possible with compassion to those in need, keeping in mind that YOUR face might very well be the only image of Christ that they see.
Wishing you the peace and joy of this season,
Doug
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 300
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