Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 8/20

 

You can see from the image above that I'm taking on a very difficult question here - one that has no quick or easy answers.  And those answers that have been offered, have left many people unsatisfied. I'm not offering an answer in the prayer that follows - more of an exploration of a tough question whose probing, if nothing else, will lead us to ponder and pray over the inscrutable mysteries of God... 

 

I hate it, Lord,
   when bad things happen to good people...

And, let’s face it, Lord:

   bad things happen to good people

      a lot, even often - all the time…

 

And I don’t understand, Lord – WHY –

   some really bad things happen

      to some really good people

   and why sometimes

      the worst things happen

         to the best of people…

 

And I don’t understand, Lord,
   why you  – you who are so good -

why you ALLOW

   bad things to happen to good people,

things that burden and complicate

   and mess up the lives

      of people who’ve done no wrong…

I don’t understand, Lord:

   why hard times fall

      on hard workers;

   or why the rich get richer

      and the poor get poorer;

   or why innocent people

      are unjustly accused;

   or why the kindest of people

      get sick and die;

   or why so many starve

      while food is wasted;

    or while some have 2 homes

      while others are homeless;

   or why hard-working people

      lose all that they have;

   or why innocent children

      are born into poverty;

   or why the weak are bullied

      by strong-armed thugs; 

   why good folks suffer

      for no good reason

   in ways that are painful,

      undeserved and harsh…

 

So, that’s why I wonder, Lord,

   why do you let bad things happen

      to good people

   - why do you let bad things happen

      to ANY people!

 

Why do you, a loving, merciful God

   allow your people, your own, your beloved,

      to know, to experience, to live through

         their losses, suffering and pain?

 

Lord, it’s not that I think

   you’re mean or cruel:

I believe that you’re loving,

   merciful and kind…

 

And it’s not that I think

   you don’t care about me:

I believe that you hold me close

   in your arms, your hands and your heart…

And it’s not that I think

   you forget or abandon me:

 I believe you keep a watchful eye on me

   always, all day and all night…

 

But I also know, Lord,

   that I live in a broken world

a world with sharp and jagged edges

   that cut and scrape and wound and scar

      the bodies and the souls

         of the good and the bad alike

I know, Lord,

   that you’re not the source

      of my suffering and pain…

   that it’s I who fail you,

      not you who fail me…

   that you love me, Lord - all of the time -

         when I’m good – and when I’m not…

 

And I know that hard times come my way

   when I fail to love you

      and my brothers and sisters

         and when I fail to love myself;

that bad things often happen to me

   when I’m foolish, not wise

   when I’m selfish, not generous

   when I’m judgmental, not understanding

   when I’m rude, not respectful

   when I’m greedy, not generous

   when I’m angry, not peaceful

   when I’m arrogant, not humble

   when I’m spiteful, not kind

   when I’m prejudiced, not impartial

   when I’m hostile, not friendly

   when I’m demanding, not accepting,

   when I’m crude, not respectable,

   when I’m aggressive, not approachable

   when I’m rough, not gentle

   when I’m uncaring, not thoughtful

   when I’m lustful, not clean

   when I’m hardhearted, not forgiving

   when I’m reckless, not prudent

   when I’m hasty, not careful

   when I’m hateful, not loving…

 

And sometimes, Lord,

   - when others are judgmental and spiteful -

         that’s when bad things happen to me…

But at other times, Lord,

   - when it’s me who’s spiteful and judgmental

         that’s when bad things happen to others

            - and I’m the one who’s at fault…

 

But you already know all about all of this, Lord,

   because you are good, you are always good

– and yet –

   such bad things happened to you

      and for that we are all to blame…

 

You are good, Lord, loving and faithful,

   merciful, selfless, kind and just

but on account of my faults and my many sins,

   you were unjustly judged and condemned,

and you suffered and died on the Cross for me

   that I might be pardoned, forgiven by you

and have that life and find that peace

   that’s only yours to give…

Walk with me, Lord and be by my side

   when hard things come my way,

      and bad things happen to me

when I don’t understand

   my suffering and my pain

      and I turn to you for healing…

 

When bad things happen to good folks, Lord,

   when bad things happen to me:

deepen my faith in you and your word

   and give me the strength I need

to love my neighbor as myself

   and you, my God, above all…

 

Amen. 

  

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