Skip to main content

Boston Marathon Bombing - where is God?

With the bombings at the Boston Marathon today there's still a sense of shock that lingers.

That really happened today to a bunch of people running and those watching? It did.

We don't know why? No - we don't.

It's at times like these when people ask the tough questions of why? Why us? Why did it happen? Why did God/G-d/Allah/Higher Being let this happen?

As a pastor I get looked to for answers in times like these and my answer is "I don't know." It's simple and honest. I have no idea how someone or a group of people would think it's okay for whatever reason to kill and hurt so many people. I have no idea what brings about so much hate and anger.

Now to the harder why question as a pastor - why did God/G-d/Allah/Higher Being let this happen? I don't believe that God takes any delight in times like these. I don't believe that God wants any part of creation to do these things. I believe in a God that s so big that yes God could stop these things from happening. But God doesn't because God created us and promised his creation freedom and freewill. I believe in a God that hopes and encourages all of creation to choose the good, or at least the most good, in every situation. If God were to stop these events God would be breaking God's own word and essence.

So where is God in this mess here on earth? God is with those who are affected by these events. God is crying with those who cry. God is mourning with those who are mourning. God is giving thanks with those who are giving thanks for safety. God runs into terrifying situations with the first responders to support them. God is in the tears and fears. God is in the prayers and blessings spoken and on our hearts.

God is also in how we choose to respond on days like these. In God wanting creation to find the most good, God doesn't want creation jumping to conclusions and looking for stereotypes to blame. I believe that God is in those who choose to donate their time, talents and money to the groups who are responding (American Red Cross is a personal favorite agency). God is in those who go and check on a neighbor or loved one just an extra time. God is in the prayer services and candle lighting ceremonies. God is in our processing of these events and the asking of difficult questions.

It is my prayer that someday all of God's creation can stop asking why do these things happen because these things no longer happen. Amen.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why the Minister has Fees

  As a minister I have the honor of performing rites and ceremonies for people at a variety of stages of life: baptisms, blessings, marriages, funerals, etc. I usually enjoy planning and leading these events. But lately I've had a rash of folks shocked that as a minister, I would have a fee to do some of these services. So lets talk about why I have fees.   To start with, if you are a member of my congregation you do get my services as a part of my contract with the congregation as long as they are spelled out in the contract. Generally if you're a member of the congregation I serve, it is expected that I will preform baptisms, blessings, funerals, weddings, etc for you because I want to remind you of God's continuous blessing in your life and especially at important moments in your life.   However some folks are shocked that there would be an honorarium suggested for the minister. The reality is that these blessings, weddings, funerals, etc. are extra work in our wee...
Post a Comment
Read more

So I Don't Fit - Litterally

Last night I had dinner at a restaurant I eat at at least twice a month. Usually I'm in a group but I was by myself. It's not often that I have time by myself right now so I welcomed the time to sit and eat food someone else cooked. I sat in the booth by myself and kept to myself. I had a book with me and my palm labyrinth so I was entertained and felt like it would be a productive time to self and with my self. But the comments from the trio of ladies across from me was anything less then pleasant. Now if you don't know me let me be clear, I am a big lady. I believe the clinical definition of my size would be morbidly obese. I am aware that I take up more physical space then I should. I don't fit into every booth in a restaurant. Believe it or not I do own a mirror and do use it even though I don't enjoy it. I am also aware that I am my size by my own doing  and no one else's. I do not expect the world to accommodate me for being this way. If you want me to p...
Post a Comment
Read more

I'm a Pastor, Why I Say What I Say - Communion

  In the church I currently serve, we celebrate communion on the first Sunday of the month. Everytime we celebrate communion I always conclude the meditation and the Words of Institution with an invitation to the talbe that includes the following: Come to the table because this is God's table. It's not the table of this congregation or this denomination, but God's. Because of that you all are welcome here.   Some of my church members think that I just like to repeat myself. But I say this for theological reasons. All too often churches like to put up boundries to participation in the full life of the church: membership requirements, approval by the pastor, counsel/boards, reciting certain creeds/belief statements, etc. While these are more formal reasons that churches bar people from full participation in all aspects of the church, there are informal ways of keeping people from full participation: unwelcoming, rumor mills, creative ways of making sure people are not includ...
Post a Comment
Read more