The Remedy

America is a blessed nation in the world, hands-down...we live in abundance. We never lack for food, shelter, relationship, entertainment, portfolios, amusement, or opportunity. We can literally be numbed to pain, loneliness, and depression, simply because there are so many remedies for such ailments, (and they don’t need to be prescribed by doctors).

In America, we have every conceivable need/desire met. Dull night?--- go down to the local pub and drink that dullness away. Feeling lonely? --- hop on Myspace or join any of the millions of chat rooms, or better yet, use your cell phone (modern black book) and give any friend a buzz. Too quiet for your liking? ---turn on your iPod and play any song from any band, from any genre. Or better yet, flick the TV on and turn it to any of your 600 stations (in hi-def, of course), or simply pop in newest release from Hollywood and tune out from the real world for a good two hours. Stomach growling? --- jump in your car and drive 3 minutes to any fast food joint and for a measly $5, u can stuff your face with tasty food. (Side note: when I asked my African friends what was their favorite food, while visiting the USA; their response was Wendy’s drive-thru.)

Of course, an argument can be made that these man-made remedies do not entirely overcome loneliness and depression, and ultimately, America is becoming more and more desperate in her “pursuit of happiness.” But, how many of us get lost everyday in experiencing superficial “highs.”

My friend Josh believes that the reason, why America does not see the miraculous, as far as signs and wonders go, in comparison to third world countries that have numerous reporting of such weekly is because, WE don't need GOD. All of our needs are taken care of. There is no sense of urgency for praying for a roommates pounding headache when he can simply swallow a couple Tylenols....likewise, your voracity in prayer for a friend’s broken arm is not the same as one who lives in a remote village, six hours from any kind of medical help. We just go to the emergency room and the doctor fixes it.

There becomes no need for a Redeemer, when there is seemingly nothing to be redeemed for.

On the other hand, Ugandans need GOD. More than likely they have nothing else. They don't have cars, Tivo, Winter Sales at Nordstrom, iPhone, or happy hour to preoccupy their thoughts like we do. God is all they have to turn to. God is their only remedy; the only solution. Whereas, in America (and the western world in general) the option of God as a “remedy” is just one out of a long list of possibilities.

We have set up systems and infrastructure that give us a self-reliance that makes it easy to remove God out of the equation.

Please understand, here in Africa, I really miss my late-night happy hours with friends and weekend concerts in downtown Portland. I really do believe that God is happy when people share conversation and laughter over a good meal and rejoices to see the creativity that comes from the musical gifts He gave out. However, the problem arises when these things replace God…..or when they become the fruit of our existence here on earth.

Just as my friend, Josh, explains best, “Think about this: if GOD and this whole Christianity turned out to be a complete hoax, lets face it--we got a pretty good Plan B, eh? I still have a good job, a couple degrees, friends, cars, money, house, bed, food, etc. I aint doing all that bad, in this life of mine. But, for your Ugandan friends, there is no Plan B....GOD is their all and their “everything”. If JESUS never existed we'd be doing OK here in Portland, Oregon. But, if JESUS never existed, people of Africa would not be OK.”

In America, we have constructed mechanisms that provide remedies for every symptom. The problem is that the disease is still there, we just don’t feel its affects anymore. God is the only true remedy. We should feel jealous of what the people here in Uganda have. They have authenticity. And as I discussed in my last Blog, they have God.

I think and articulate best in a dialogue. Thanks, Josh, for participating in a dialogue even across a couple oceans.