Why? It doesn't seem fair; it doesn't seem just; it doesn't seem merciful; it doesn't seem gracious. All words that we used to describe God.
Perhaps, I wonder, is it a matter of perspective? Are we defining God's actions based on our realities?
Yesterday, I stood at Lake Junaluska and looked across the lake. As far as I could see, it was white and frozen. Furthermore, the ducks, normally in very abundant numbers, were nowhere near to be seen as their normal "stomping" (or swimming) ground was now an inch or so of ice. In the distance, I could see some of them walking around or sitting on the ice. There was no water flowing, and frankly, it looked a bit overwhelming. To me, this is what it feels like when I don't understand why my child is being treated unfairly. It is what it feels like when good people find out that the child they are birthing is less than perfect. It is what it feels like when the child you love so dearly decides to reject you and leave home. It is what is feels like when "friends" deride and criticize every move. It is what you feel like when a dear friend receives a cancer diagnoses.
Life is like that sometimes. Really bad things happen to really good people. It is not fair, by our definition.
A change of perspective, in this case driving around the lake a bit and rising above "lake level" helped me to see something.
The ducks were being taken care of. The lake was not a solid, ice filled vastness. It had two melted areas where the ducks were congregating, and based on their actions, having a pretty good time. Also, being slightly higher helped me to see that it wasn't a solid sheet of ice; there were cracks and fissures running all over the surface.
The child being treated unfairly? Perhaps it is a valuable lesson in learning how to deal with the situations around him and still be able to come out on top? The less than perfect child? Whose definition of perfect? Ours? God doesn't make accidents, so while we see a disability or handicap, God sees a beautiful creation made to glorify him. The wayward child? The unfaithful friend? The cancer? Who knows? But, if we try to define and shape our reactions based upon our own definitions and perspectives, we will fall woefully short of realizing what wonderful power and grace God has.
Bad things will happen to good people. We will continue to feel it isn't "fair." But, when we can accept that God has a different perspective, and he can see what we can't, may we rest in knowing that He loves us, He will never hurt us, and His way, while not able to be explained, is perfect.
4 comments:
You're so cool.
I don't know you karma but since Bernard does i will second his words. But I also want to say that this is a fantastic post with a great perspective. I really like the use of the pictures in telling your story. here's to hoping that someone who is struggling with the "fair" question will somehow get a hold of this.
A missionary that Karma and I support sent out their newsletter today.
This quote adds some perspective to the "why did God let (whatever) disaster happen?"
"Just today I (Tripp) read in the latest issue of
Mission Frontiers magazine that 40% of church-planting
breakthroughs among Muslim people groups followed some
kind of natural disaster,
and 80% of major crises
(including earthquakes,
wars, and famines) in the
last 20 years have taken
place in the 10/40
window region, where the
vast majority of the
world’s unreached peoples
reside. This is no mere
coincidence, and we pray
that God would continue
to use MAF to help
respond to these disasters
in places like Indonesia (a
country very familiar with
natural disasters) in order to
begin more church-planting
movements! We get very
excited when we see what
God is doing around the
world, and we just want to
be used by Him in His big redemption plan for the nations."
I've been wanting to comment on this post for a few days now, all to simply say that I love what you have written. All of this is so very close to home for me and my little family that is very difficult to describe and understand. Right now, everything seems so surreal and nebulous. This "waiting game" we have been playing is starting to annoy the dickens out of me.
All the while, on our prayer list is a church member's granddaughter who just had a baby with "Digeorge syndrome," a chromosomal defect with much more profound effects than spina bifida.
Anyway, thanks for writing this; it has helped me to think through and cope with what God has given us. I do feel like a very small duck on a very big pond with little to nowhere to go.
Post a Comment