I read not long ago that blogs by authors should steer clear of comments on social issues. I was going to write about something frivolous this morning, but I find that’s impossible.
I live in Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia. Yesterday in Sydney, the next closest capital city, a man took several men and women hostage in a cafe. I was watching the drama unfold yesterday, praying desperately that everyone would get out unscathed … physically, at least.
Tragically, overnight two hostages and the gunman were killed. I have to admit, this result made me feel guilty about writing my current manuscript, which deals with a similar situation. It has also brought many questions to my mind.
Why do things like this happen?
I am a Christian and believe in a God who is involved in the world and who cares about its inhabitants. However, the most difficult part of the Christian faith for most people is why God allows things like this to happen. There are no easy answers. I could make a glib comment about something good coming from this, and I believe that’s possible, but that doesn’t negate the fact that people have been killed and some families will not have a loved one with them this Christmas. Not only that, the victims who escaped will be scarred for life and it may take them years to even get a semblance of their life back. It’s difficult to think of a good that outweighs that.
As I believe that God is a presence for good in our world, not evil, I do believe that the ultimate good from all this suffering will outweigh the bad. Sometimes it’s a struggle to believe it, but my trust in him means that I do. It never makes this kind of event easy to deal with, though, and I will continue to pray for the families who have lost loved ones and have suffered in other ways as a result of this.
Do you believe in God? How do you deal with the question of suffering? Let me know what you think.
Writing a social comment, I think, is perfectly fine, especially when the nation’s consciousness is somewhat geared towards an event. It was a terrible day yesterday, and there will be a lot of discussion to follow. Our real task is to continue to pray for those who survived the ordeal, that they will somehow find peace and healing. And of course to pray for the families of those lost. Very sad.
Yes, it will be hard for those who experienced it in a personal way, whether as the family of one of the victims or the victims themselves.
Lynne, this is a terrible tragedy and I have been praying for the families affected by this event. I know that those families and friends will be forever changed and there is nothing that will bring the comfort they so desperately need.
There is a Pastor that I heard recently that gave a sermon that allowed me to see these and other struggles in a different light.
It has been said that God will not put more on you than you can handle. That “If He brings you to it, he will bring you through it”. Those are great thoughts, but here’s what made more sense to me. God is not “testing” you. He is strengthening you. Think about it; if you have never been through a difficult time, if you have never experienced hardships, you have never grown. You never know how strong you are or could be until you have been put through a trial.
I’m not in any way trying to rationalized someone killing innocent people, or to lessen the grief of this tragedy. I have never had to live through this kind of situation. I have survived a few car accidents, a few broken hearts, a few deaths in my family. I have survived through numerous kidney stones, and illnesses. I have witnessed someone die and I have saved a life. But if I were thrown into a “Hunger Games” scenario, as much as I’d like to think I’d survive, but the likelihood of that is slim because I’ve never had to fight to survive. The things we have gone through make us who we are. You would not be the person you are if anything about your life were different.
I don’t know that “something good will come of this” but I have faith that these people were not put through this for no reason. Perhaps the survivors will one day save someone else’s life because they survived this. Maybe they will only enrich their own lives because they know how quickly it can be snuffed out.
I will continue to pray for those involved. Thanks for the topic, Lynne. I’d rather discuss topics like this than politics. 😉
Yes, I too believe good will come of it, but it seems glib to say it in the midst of people suffering as a result.
Yes Lynne, I do believe in God; but I just wish that everyone did.
The siege in Sydney, the recent terrorism in Paris, past terrorist events, and ones that happen every day in third world countries (that we hear nothing about) all just go to show what an evil race of people we are by nature. God only blesses us with good things, the evil comes from the devil. We must suffer because of our original sin, but this is really nothing compared to the suffering that Jesus endured so that we might live. We cannot always see past our own human limitations, and focus on God’s reasoning behind things, but it is all part of a major plan. We must have faith; and lucky are we who have this faith brought to us since birth or through family and friends. My heart breaks for those who have not been so lucky. I pray everyday for those who are less fortunate than myself, whether it be through their life’s circumstances, ill health or some trauma they had to go through. May God bless them, each and every one; and may God bless you too as you use your talent and write from your heart, mind and soul.
Thanks, Josephine-Anne. 🙂