Challenges Facing Humanity Today

We face many global, societal, and systemic challenges to humanity today including: injustice, poverty, hunger, homelessness, food and water insecurity, Covid and other pandemics, disease, inadequate medical and mental healthcare, global warming, environmental destruction and damage, killing of innocent life, racism, class warfare, personal safety, violence, crime, terrorism, global conflict and war, subjugation and exploitation of women and children, immigration, persecution, discrimination and marginalization of others, unequal distribution of wealth and power, lack of economic opportunity and unemployment, inflation, the lack and cost of education, unaccountability and the lack of transparency and corruption in government, lack of tolerance for others of different faiths, self-identities, and beliefs, and many other challenges.

There are no easy solutions to any of these challenges that can be daunting, and they will take our imagination, patience, courage, and cooperation with others to bear good fruit. But nothing is impossible for God when, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we surrender, cooperate with, and allow God's love, truth, goodness, beauty, compassion and will to be lived and manifested through each of us, both individually and communally, in our spheres of influence.

We start with recognizing and accepting the inherent dignity of all humans and give respect and voice to their experiences and concerns. We are all part of the human family, interrelated and interdependent on one another. We are called to continually search for the truth, which can be elusive, recognizing that no one person or group views or possesses all of the truth, or has all of the answers. Before we can seek to find solutions to these challenges, we need to understand the underlying factors, conditions, and systems that cause or bring them forth, many of which may be in competition with the desires, needs, or interests of other persons, groups, or systems. We then begin to engage in reasoned and respectful dialogue and discourse among all stakeholders to seek to prioritize and find realistic solutions to these challenges for the common good of all, and bring these solutions to fruition.

You are invited to take some time to reflect on the societal and systemic challenges that currently affect you or others who you know. What are you doing to learn more about the underlying causes of these challenges? How are you helping yourself and others in dealing with these challenges in your spheres of influence? What more do you think you could do?