Mexico is a mess these days. I know most places on the planet are. But it seems to me that now, perhaps more than ever during our years living here, Mexico is in crisis: economic, political, moral, social, family, health, security, etc. The newspapers and television programs are full of story after story of crime, sickness and corruption.
This morning, as I read the newspaper, I saw a summary from anthropologist and sociologist Roger Bartra. Bartra is an award winning researcher and author who teaches at the UNAM (National Autonoumous University in Mexico City). He will be speaking here this weekend on how he sees Mexico’s unfolding future. The title of his keynote is: “La Sombra del Futuro” –“The Shadow of the Future.”
But what caught my attention was the way he describes the state of mind of most Mexicans these days:
“…(Bartra) perceives that the Mexican society is depoliticized and apathetic; that common Mexicans are tied up in survival. Their lives are preoccupied with family, security and the problem of finding a job” (my translation).
Bartra puts into words what I sense as I live among and talk with common Mexicans. For the most part, they seem to me apathetic—disinterested in discussions of politics, religion, world issues. They’ve heard and reheard all the proposals. They’ve gotten their hopes up too many times. Just not interested anymore.
Or maybe it is not that they aren’t interested—but that most just don’t have the time and luxury to think of these things right now. They are focused on survival: family, security, trying to make a dignified living.
Often I wonder what God is really doing here… I think I see evidence of hope—yet still so much darkness.
This morning I’m thinking about the incarnation—about God’s presence among Mexicans.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14a).
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