Devotion - Monday, September 29

It is always a question of how quickly a community moves beyond a tragedy and gets back to "live as before."  The death last week of a Clemson student sent shock waves through the community.  I can't tell where that stands with all of you, but it remains very much on my mind and in my prayers.

Perhaps in part due to the assigned texts for these days.  I am reading the Book of Job, whose content is an attempt to try to understand how an all powerful and all loving God could allow bad things to happen to those whom He loves.  

Maybe God doesn't really care?

Maybe God isn't all that powerful?

Maybe God doesn't love everyone the same?

Without spoiling the ending, let me tell you that Job doesn't answer the question - at least in a way most of us would prefer an answer.  But along the way he does touch on the typical responses given.  This morning's section (Chapter 12), includes Job's fear that because of the hardships that have fallen on him he has become "a laughingstock to my friends;  I, who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.  In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune.;  it is ready for those whose feet slip."  (emphasis mine)

One of ways we move beyond tragedy (not a healthy way I would insert) is to find a way to blame or account for the misfortune.  "Surely there was a misstep taken by the one who is suffering" we want to believe.  We find an explanation for what has happened.  We develop a "contempt" for the one who suffers.  

I keep reading the press releases and listening to the gossip about last week's death.  I keep looking for some way to make sense of it all; some way to explain how this could have happened; some angle which will allow me to cling to the thought that none of you (our LCM flock) are likely to fall prey to such a horrible chain of events.  

Do I so desperately want to return to my preferred state as "one who is at ease" that I have developed a "contempt... ready for (the one) whose feet slip"?

My prayer is in keeping with the closing chapters of the Book of Job - that God would give me the wisdom not to blame those who suffer; and that God would give me the courage to believe and hope and trust even in the face of things that make no sense and cause great pain.