The article is likely right in pointing to the appeal of the “social” nature of many of these games, such as World of Warcraft. And it tells of one married couple where the man loved gaming, but his wife felt neglected. Desperate to save the marriage, she agreed to start playing the game with him. Eventually, they went their separate ways in the game, since she couldn’t keep up. But she found other friends in the game and plays it all the time. Asked about the allure of the virtual world, here’s how she replied: “People in the game are a lot more genuine then they are in real life,” she says. “Being hidden behind this mask of your character, you’re able to be a little more open and honest with people because they don’t know who you are.”

You can probably guess what I’m going to say about this heart breaking sentiment. Set aside for a moment the fact that she entered this “other world” to be with her husband but is now on her own separate voyage in that world with others she feels accept her and care for her (they give her “gold” to use in the game, for instance). I don’t want to sound like a typical basher of “virtual communities” - I’m a Facebook devoté. But it does say something about the harshness of our human communities (or even our marriages) when many find that, in order to be “a little more open and honest with people,” we must don the mask. Note the deep irony in this woman’s words. She’s being honest - true to herself, saying what she really thinks, etc. - when she’s “hidden behind this mask.” In other words, in order to be herself, she must be someone else. In order to be present as our self, we must not be present to ourselves. (This kind of thing is unfortunately common in marital affairs, too, where often we embrace self-alienation as a means of self-expression - step out of our own lives in order to get what we think we really want.) It’s a tortuous cycle.

Pascal once said, “Human beings must be known to be loved.” And yet our frail and disordered condition tells us that to be loved, we must not be known. And there is plenty in our own experience of life to lead us to this conclusion: when we give ourselves to be known, love is not often what we receive in return. So we do not give ourselves and are not known, and are therefore unloved.

As a Christian, I do believe that God in Jesus Christ is the only one who both knows us completely and loves us unconditionally. And the simple call to love others as we have been loved by God should be seen as a radical way of life that undercuts the self-alienation that plunges the human self into an empty abyss. It’s a call to stop the tortuous cycle, in our own lives and for the lives of others. When others let themselves be known, we are called to offer them in return the love that we have received. And we can give ourselves to be known, because the security of our own souls is not hanging in the balance, waiting for acceptance in return. We have already received it and with it can overcome any this-worldly rejection.

So, the article convicted me.  Too often you’d be fair to characterize me the way the woman in the article characterizes our society. Hopefully without sounding trite, it’s safe to say that the more Christians embrace the simple but profound call to mutual self-giving, the fewer hearts we’ll leave to search for acceptance in a different world. 

Last night I saw that there were two comments posted, and they were serious questions, people asking for information about what is happening on the ground in the affected areas, people looking for loved ones. So I would like to invite you to post your questions, to answer posted questions if you can, to offer the names of persons or congregations for whom we should specifically pray, to give us any updates you may have on the relief efforts, or to share how your congregation is participating in those efforts.

Just fill out the “comment” section below in order to share. I have reposted below the two questions from last night.

Let us join in prayer today and in the days ahead for those who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina. So far, 68 deaths have been reported as well as major destruction to buildings and infrastructure. In this time I am reminded that we as a church are a people, not a collection of buildings; and I am reminded that, in the face of human frailty and the fragility of creation, our rock who is Jesus remains unshaken. Please pray for our congregations and for their mission to those who are suffering.

The PCUSA’s Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has begun relief efforts.

Below is a list of 80 congregations in the areas that have been most affected. If you have specific prayer requests from your congregation, or if we have inadvertently omitted your congregation from this list, please email us and let us know.

Bay Minette First Presbyterian Church Bay Minette, AL
Central Presbyterian Church Mobile, AL
Citronelle First Presbyterian Church Citronelle, AL
Cottage Hill Presbyterian Church Mobile, AL
Foley First Presbyterian Church Foley, AL
Government Street Presbyterian Church Mobile, AL
Grace Presbyterian Church Mobile, AL
Grand Bay First Presbyterian Church Grand Bay, AL
Gulf Shores First Presbyterian Church Gulf Shores, AL
Hillsdale Presbyterian Church Mobile, AL
Jackson First Presbyterian Church Jackson, AL
Memorial Presbyterian Church Mobile, AL
Northminster Presbyterian Church Chickasaw, AL
Orange Beach Presbyterian Church Orange Beach, AL
Overlook Presbyterian Church Mobile, AL
Presbytery of South Alabama Daphne, AL
Providence Presbyterian Church Mobile, AL
Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church Spanish Fort, AL
Spring Hill Presbyterian Church Mobile, AL
Stockton Presbyterian Church Stockton, AL
Swift Presbyterian Church Foley, AL
Trinity Presbyterian Church Fairhope, AL
Westminster Presbyterian Church Mobile, AL
Amite-Arcola Presbyterian Church Amite, LA
Berean Presbyterian Church New Orleans, LA
Bogalusa First Presbyterian Church Bogalusa, LA
Canal Street Presbyterian Church New Orleans, LA
Carolyn Park Presbyterian Church Arabi, LA
Carrollton Presbyterian Church New Orleans, LA
Chinese Presbyterian Church Kenner, LA
Covington Presbyterian Church Covington, LA
Creedmoor Presbyterian Church Saint Bernard, LA
Faith Presbyterian Church Harvey, LA
Gentilly Presbyterian Church New Orleans, LA
Gretna Presbyterian Church Gretna, LA
Hammond First Presbyterian Church Hammond, LA
Jefferson Presbyterian Church Jefferson, LA
John Calvin Presbyterian Church Metairie, LA
Kenner Presbyterian Church Kenner, LA
Korean Presbyterian Church of New Orleans New Orleans, LA
Lakeview Presbyterian Church New Orleans, LA
Luling First Union Presbyterian Church Luling, LA
Madisonville Presbyterian Church Madisonville, LA
Metairie Ridge Presbyterian Church Metairie, LA
New Covenant Presbyterian Church Mandeville, LA
New Orleans First Presbyterian Church New Orleans, LA
Northminster Presbyterian Church Pearl River, LA
Oak Park Presbyterian Church New Orleans, LA
Parkway Presbyterian Church Metairie, LA
Peace Presbyterian Church New Orleans, LA
Ponchatoula First Presbyterian Church Ponchatoula, LA
Saint Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church New Orleans, LA
Saint John Presbyterian Church La Place, LA
Slidell First Presbyterian Church Slidell, LA
Woodland Presbyterian Church New Orleans, LA
Bay Saint Louis First Presbyterian Bay Saint Louis, MS
Diamondhead Community Presbyterian Diamondhead, MS
Fairview Presbyterian Church Heidelberg, MS
Gautier Presbyterian Church Gautier, MS
Gavins Chapel Presbyterian Church Bay Springs, MS
Handsboro Presbyterian Church Gulfport, MS
Long Beach Presbyterian Church Long Beach, MS
Lucedale First Presbyterian Church Lucedale, MS
McFarland Presbyterian Church Heidelberg, MS
Ocean Springs First Presbyterian Church Ocean Springs, MS
Orange Grove Presbyterian Church Gulfport, MS
Pascagoula First Presbyterian Church Pascagoula, MS
Pineview Presbyterian Church Hattiesburg, MS
Pineville Presbyterian Church Pass Christian, MS
Pisgah Presbyterian Church Mize, MS
Presbytery of Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
Ruth Memorial Presbyterian Church Poplarville, MS
Trinity First Presbyterian Church Laurel, MS
United Presbyterian Church Sandersville, MS
Vernal Presbyterian Church Lucedale, MS
Westminster Presbyterian Church Hattiesburg, MS
Westminster Presbyterian Church Gulfport, MS
Wiggins Presbyterian Church Wiggins, MS