'Our world has become so saturated with images and symbols that a new "electronic reality" has been created, whose effect is to obliterate any sense of an objective reality lying behind the images and symbols. In this "simulated" world, images become objects, rather than reflecting them; reality becomes hyper-reality. In hyper-reality it is no longer possible to distinguish the imaginary from the real ... the true from the false.'
(Krishan Kumar, Sociologist. Quoted in M. Sayers, 'The Trouble With Paris: Following Jesus in a World of Plastic Promises', p.7.)
This idea of hyper-reality has really struck me this week. As Sayers says just prior to quoting Kumar, he says that 'the media-drenched world in which we live has overextended our expectations of life.' (p. 5)
Hope and expectation that is let-down often bears the fruit of disillusionment and bitterness in the hearts of those who have felt the sharp end of life.
Mark is 47 years old, and very angry at the world. And to be honest, understandably so. He has looked after himself since he was 16. He is acutely aware of the falseness, lies, deception and exploitation of the world. He kept reminding me that there was a real world that will chew you up and spit you out worse off that when you arrived.
He is bitter about the greed of men that has led to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, and is wary of people. His relationships seem to be coloured by distrust. But his heart seems to long for love and trust. He is damaged by the false promises of this world, and the consequential feelings of inadequacy.
The idea of hyper-reality, in which the media projects a false and plastic representation of what we can expect of life, is accurate. But I think that recognition of the falseness of hyper-reality does not have to lead a heart down the path of cynicism that Mark has been led down. Because that cynicism leads to hopelessness, and easily down further into despair.
Whilst hyper-reality is a lie, like most lies, it is effective because it taps into and then manipulates a truth nestled deep in the soul of mankind. A truth which speaks that there is hope for something beautiful and good and pure. A truth which says that the brokenness of this world is not right. A truth which whispers that there is hope for transformation and regeneration.
I think that the reason so many fall captive to this idea of hyper-reality is because something in our hearts is magnetised towards the idea that we were made for more. I think that the media and culture has taken and distorted and manipulated and abused a fundamental desire in the heart of men.
I think that dissatisfaction with mediocrity is an expression of the yearning to be a part of a story that is great and full of adventure and courage.
But we have looked for satisfaction in things that are plastic.
In things that will rob us of joy, rather than bring us contentment.
Dave is in his mid-40s. He has been back on the streets for the past week and a half. He has bipolar, is divorced, has a 16-year-old son, and shares 8 bottles of wine a day. He chases the manic high of his illness, and takes drugs fairly regularly.
He also believes in Jesus.
Dave has a different take on the world to Mark. He feels the sharp stab of the harshness of life. But for some reason, he has a hope which keeps him from killing himself, as he said. 'The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak' is far from intellectual truth to him. He longs for the day when Jesus will return to restore the world. And that keeps him anchored in something resembling joy.
We are wired for something greater, something beautiful. But that something is not found in the false promises held out by this world.
That something is found is the true promise held out by the One by whom and for whom we exist.
The truth of that promise echoes in the heart of every man. We long for the justice of the Kingdom of God.
Come, Lord Jesus. We need your hope so desperately.
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