World news everywhere is about refugees and migrants. Millions of people are leaving their homes and travelling to better places. In France the “Jungle” camp for migrants who want to break into Britain is being moved, with tear gas and rock throwing.

Police in Macedonia are keeping migrants out, with tear gas and rubber bullets. Donald Trump wants to build a wall on the Mexican border, where organized crime cartels smuggle people, and kill the surplus. And the list goes on.

I live in Canada where the government promised, in October 2015, to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees by Christmas. They achieved the number by March of 2016.

Something is missing in all these stories. Some clues about the missing story are the delay in bringing refugees to Canada, and the strange story about refugees from Iraq, living in Finland, returning home by the thousands, and kissing the ground of Iraq when they get off the plane.

Someone lied.

I live in a wealthy place that is now in a severe recession; where the government deficit is ten billion dollars and growing. My neighbours don’t look prosperous. California is hopelessly in debt, and now Ontario, in Canada, is even worse off. It may become Argentina north.

Much of our prosperity is an illusion. I teach vocational courses in Canada, that are popular with new arrivals, and I hear many sad stories. Imagine if you had to struggle to become a warehouse worker, with the possibility of becoming a truck driver some day.

Some of us like working in industry, but we had a choice. What if your family lived in a dingy rented apartment; and the free medical care involved long lineups? After the welcoming smiles from the politicians; the boss can fire, the landlord can evict, the police can arrest and fine, and petty resentment and prejudice are everywhere.

Too many in western societies are infected with Statism as a religion or ideology. We believe governments should care for us, and large corporations should give us great careers for life. Others believe with us, and they want in.

We fail because we offer what we don’t have, and some migrants see that. Canada had to work hard to find Syrians who wanted to come over, and Finland is losing thousands. Apparently many Mexicans have decided to leave the USA. This is a trend to watch.

Humans are naturally believers, and it is popular to believe in salvation by government and corporate wealth. I think this delusion will soon die, for most of us, and I don’t know what we will believe next.

As a Christian, I am still part of the poor economy, but I don’t have to believe the delusions behind it. I became a Christian when I believed in Jesus, but I also remember deciding to not believe many things. That was such a relief. If I ever doubt my decision, I only need to read a newspaper.

And these old words are new to me every time I read them:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23)