Death is not worse pain than an empty life. -- Lun Tha

We live in troubled times.  I am sure that no matter where on this shrinking world of ours you reside, you are aware of this. It is to be expected; people are fallible and, given motive and opportunity, we eventually mess things up.

Which is why I think a superhero kind of character will be coming on the stage, soon.  How soon? Within a decade, I'm guessing, though it might be longer, sure.  This hero will show up, smile or look somber as is appropriate.  This hero – and I believe it will be a male, as a male would be most culturally acceptable on a global basis – will be brilliant.  Expansive.  Tolerant.  Sincere.  He will promote unity. Trust.  Love.  Acceptance.  He will state that peace is possible and he will make it so.  He will encourage dialogue between national leaders, politicians, religious leaders of all faiths. 

He will truly appear to be the answer to everything wrong with the world today. He will seem to point the way for all faiths to come to an understanding of how God is a part of men, worshiped by many names and with many rites in many cultural contexts.

People will nod, smile, cry,  cheer.  They will applaud this hero who will show the world, he will say, how to just get along.  And what he says will make great sense.

Soon, he will gather the governments of the world together as he will the religions.  Everything will be startlingly unified and harmonious.

On the surface, this looks like a Utopia, does it not? 

But Utopia means "no place."  U is from the Greek root aiw meaning "no" or "not", topia is from the Greek root topos, meaning "place."  And yes, of course Thomas More knew that when he wrote his book. He was a scholar.

In truth, this hero will be the ultimate villain. He will cajole those who follow him into thinking he is the perfect person. He will seem to solve their problems.  And they will believe him with all of their hearts.

They will even worship him.

I say this today as a warning, because of late it has been heavy on my heart.  Holding out for a hero is all well and good for a song or a television series or whatever, but in truth, mankind has already seen the best hero.  He will return at the end of the story and save the day, without even a cool mask or utility belt.  He will only have the power of his word, and it will destroy an army.

Don't be deceived.  Don't follow a liar.  Be wary.