![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() |
Spirituality Information |
|
![]() |
When Bad Things Happen (Part 1)
Rabbi Kushner in his book "When Bad Things Happen to Good People," describes how he learned one day that his three year old son would die in his early teens of the rare, but lethal disease called progeria. Progeria is a condition which accelerates the aging process. Medical authorities informed him that his son would never grow beyond three feet in height and would look like an old man while he was still a child. It was this spirit slashing and heart splitting news that prompted the Rabbi to seriously question his faith and God. Rabbi Kushner could not comprehend how a loving, supposedly merciful and compassionate and just God, could allow such a tragedy to befall him and his loved ones. After all, he considered himself a God-fearing, obedient man who was living a more religiously committed life than most people. So how could a God of justice permit so great an injustice? The Rabbi does not raise any questions that are alien to the majority of us. We all at one time or another have asked that same deeply felt question Why? Why me Lord? Why my child? Why my husband? Why? Why? Why? When we hear or read about the thousands of lives lost due to famine, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fire, shipwrecks, plane crashes, wars, riots, terrorism, - we cannot help but wonder Why? Where is justice, where is the fairness, where is God? Questions about God as a just God always arise when people are called to experience the pain and stress of human suffering. Questions about the dubious meaning of human life amidst intense, and often times irreducible suffering, are not merely abstract theoretical reflections. They are inquiries emerging from the depths of our existence. The Psalmist asked, "Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" Psalms 10:1 Moses angrily asks God, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all." Exodus 5:22-23. Job inquired," Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?" Job 3:23. Jeremiah questions, "Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?" Jeremiah 15:18. The cry of human agony has always been one of helplessness and a lack of understanding. How can we make sense of the power and goodness of God - if we open our eyes to the terrible presence of radical suffering and evil in the world, and in our own individual lives? And yet, it is in the midst of human misery and misfortune, calamities and crisis that Paul declares rather intransigently, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." We must understand that Paul was not speaking from the philosophic fatalism of his day. His stance was not one of passive resignation. His attitude was not "whatever will be, will be." Paul was totally convinced and wholly convicted that "all things work together for good." In his letter to the Romans, Paul is not writing about some theological viewpoint or some ideal he internalized while studying under the renowned and scholarly Gamaliel. But rather, he is writing out of the experience of tremendous suffering. Paul's life had not been easy. He was a revolving door prisoner; on at least three different occasions he had been beaten with rods, on five different occasions he had been whipped with 39 stripes each. Once he was stoned. Three times he was shipwrecked and almost drowned. Often he was imperiled by robbers. Many times he was weary, in pain, hungry, thirsty, cold and naked. And, I suspect that Paul experienced even more hardships that are not recorded in scripture. All of his suffering he accepted for the sake of Jesus Christ. He declares in Philippians 4: 11-13, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." You see, Paul perceives suffering in this world from the perspective of the eternal. In spite of the difficulties he had come through, he could boldly assert, "all things" work together for good." The word all is all inclusive. All things whether good or bad, bright or dark, sweet or bitter, easy or hard, happy or sad, all things work together for good. It does not matter whether we experience prosperity or poverty, health or sickness, calm or storm, comfort or suffering, life or death, because all things are working together for good. (continued in Part 2) Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon. You are welcome to visit AMEN Ministries: Your Soul's Service Station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library. Blessings to all!
MORE RESOURCES:
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
You Lookin At Me? It's human nature to point a finger when we think someone else is guilty of something but yet we don't stop to consider that we too may be guilty of the very same thing we are accusing others of. Why is it so easy to turn a blind eye and overlook our own faults and yet so easy to see these faults in someone else? For some reason, we take pleasure in judging, condemning and criticizing others. Discipline of Prayer: Always Connected Every workday, five days a week, I take the light rail into downtown Dallas. Only last week, this routine finally taught me a lesson about prayer. Thinking Out Loud (Answers) Part two of a two part series (Channeled) Spirituality is about everyday life, which includes getting up in the morning, getting ready for the day be it work, school or play. It is about knowing yourself and the connection to your environment. Go Beyond - You Are Your Own Best Friend, So Start Liking Yourself! A year ago, a beautiful woman came to see me. Her husband had been cheating on her and she wanted some advice regarding her future. Shamanism Shamanism is an ancient form of mysticism. Although there are many localized variations, the basic tenet is that all things are sacred and alive. Pray Without Ceasing "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 16-18, NIVThroughout the long year of trying to figure out how I could joint venture with Saving Grace Enterprises I've just known it would eventually happen -all in God's time of course. Confessions of a Limousine Mystic! Observations from the Town Car.. You Are Not Your Stuff We humans are a funny, funny breed. We spend our entire lives working and working and working to acquire 'stuff'. Being a Christian What is a Christian? According to The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language, the general definition of a Christian is "One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus."There are many Christian denominations, each varying slightly in its interpretation of the Bible teachings. Accessing Your Spiritual Guidance For the last 35 years, I have been working with individuals, couples and families, as well as business relationships. I have 8 published books on relationships and healing, some of them best-sellers. An Analysis of Western Mans Guiding Presuppositions An analysis of Western man's guiding presuppositions, A Review of the book "Impulse of Power" by Jack KettlerAfter having had the pleasure of reading Dr. Michael W. Run Forest Gump Run In the movie "Forest Gump" we see Forest succeed in just about every aspect of his life. What we admire most about him is his ability to overcome physical obstacles all throughout his life. When I Lived in a Haunted House Now, I will recount in full what happened to me and my partner in a house we used to live in, before my first born was around.It was the winter of 2000, myself and my partner were expecting our first child, after we had been told that we couldn't conceive, so we were jubilant at this fact, as you can well imagine. Pioneering Insanity "They're crazy!" That's what they're saying about us. The majority of the people in America at this time in history do not channel spirits, do not converse with angels or aliens, do not astral project, do not know about any kind of higher vibration, and do not talk about Starseeds, Indigo Children, nor Lightworkers. Picture This (Part Two) In part one, I described an existence that is absolute, and a being of perfection that only the creator would know, this is the source of all that is, this is what many would call God.In the physical world about as close as we could get to imagine the same reality as the creator would be within the "White Room," experiment. Trailing Clouds of Glory Most of us are familiar with the inner criticism and gnawing self-doubt we hear when we want to take the next step in our work or life. Rather than staying stymied we can observe our thoughts, let them go and return to the truth of who we really are. Recovering In The Water It was in the middle of the night and the boat was being tossed in the wind. The crew was stressed?Between shoves from the wind, they were shocked to see someone actually walking on the water through the wind, rain, and waves. The Death of God, the Mission of Modern Psychology, and Me The question, "Is God Dead?", first entered my consciousness when I was ten or eleven years old. I saw it on the cover of a Life magazine, and it's lingered in my mind ever since. I'm Too Busy for Me Everyone is busy nowadays. It's hard to find time for anything. Connect With the Moon Phases to Manifest Your Desires Connecting with the Moon phases, the Full and New Moon phases in particular, is something anyone can do very easily. It is all about energy (isn't everything?) and directing the energies in a positive way. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2006 |