TGIF
“It’s a fallen world”…
That is both a Christian statement of existential fact and our fall back explanation for why few things work as we think they ought to work.
One of the results of that fall is a terrifying randomness that produces fear and frustration in equal parts.
About three and a half hours from here there has been a terrible fire.
An entire town was destroyed in the flames and there are over sixty dead and 600 missing.
Many of those who survived did so with nothing other than what they could wear or carry.
There are many pets, livestock and forest animals wounded or dead.
Those noble ones who are searching for the dead speak as those who have been to war…the scene is too horrible for words.
As a believer in God, I have to ask, “why, Lord?”
Why in this place , why now, why ever?
How many of those people… whose ashes are now being separated from the ashes of the place they lived… died praying for help?
The Bible tells us that creation groans for redemption…for a few terrible days it must have screamed.
“It’s a fallen world”…
That will be how we explain this tragedy and that will satisfy some of the devout.
It will not satisfy me, but it will be all I have to work with.
I will drink the cup of fear and frustration down to the dregs because I need to remember every day that this fallen world is not my home.
It will make me warier of those who think they have certainty about every doctrine about God, but are not troubled in their souls when things like this happen.
I will see the hand of God in the hands and hearts of those seeking to help, rejoice with the ones who escaped, and mourn for the ones who didn’t.
I will pray that God bless all those firefighters, police, and responders who have and are trying to restore and rescue life in a place of death.
Hope will come from the rescue of a cat with burned paws and singed whiskers who is a picture of all those who survived and those who gave their all to help.
Tomorrow will show scars, but tomorrow will come.
I will narrow down the “promises of God” that we cite to make sense of tragedies and deny the randomness of life to only one.
“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:2–3 ESV)
Then and only then, will we understand…and be safe from the fires of this fallen world.
Make your own application…
Totally shatters my heart… and motivates my fervent prayers for His Creation, His creatures… Lord have mercy…
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
A friend who lives in the Paradise area and pastors a church lost everything. Another friend who lives there, and pastors another church, went home to find his house being the only one standing – and his church the only structure standing in an area that was so devastated. One man blesses the Lord for being spared, and mourns for his community, the other man also mourns for his community and blesses the Lord for being all he has left.
So much happens without explanation. Our experiences run contrary to our systematic theology. I think the problem is with our systematic theologies- when pushed by the extremes of life, are weighed in the balances and for me, found wanting.
There are so many that suffer…not to diminish what’s happened in CA. What other suffering is going on as well? Prayers are with this in CA…
I don’t even know what to say. 🙁
pstmike … amen. ?
Could it be that the thing we try to avoid is not the question of why such suffering, but the fact of where we are now? That it is by God’s mercies that we are not consumed? When i see the conflagration just passed or those poor babies in the commercials asking for charity donations i see just how evil the ruler(s) of this world are…. God’s timing is something that i have to trust and it isn’t easy, is it? At least it isn’t for me…. my inclination is to tug on God’s robe like a person drowning, “hurry uo, Lord.” May God forgive me for that … ?
pstrmike has spoken well.
Theodicy mangles every systematic theology and leaves it gasping on the ground.
In our efforts to make it work, we either must diminish God or the suffering we see around us.
I don’t try anymore…by faith I refuse to diminish the goodness of God and by sight I refuse to diminish the terrors of this world.
“…by faith I refuse to diminish the goodness of God and by sight I refuse to diminish the terrors of this world.”
Damn, that’s good.
That’s really, really good, even…..
Maybe this is oversimplification – but I can’t help feeling that there’s a whole lot we just aren’t meant to understand. (Yet).
Just to somehow remember that the goodness of God is, in fact, greater than the terrors of this world.
Some days I find it hard to even believe that, when face to face with those terrors.
Can anyone recommend a relief organization doing good work with CA fire evacuees?
A makeshift shelter at Chico’s East Ave Church has been housing about 200 evacuees and providing medical care. Many of the evacuees at East Ave Church, located at 1184 East Ave., are elderly or require medical attention, and the church is accepting donations to help offset costs for prescription medicines and other health care needs through its website.
Here are ways to help through monetary donations:
The Salvation Army is taking donations to support disaster relief and provide meals to first responders and evacuees. Donors can give online at the Salvation Army’s Del Oro division website, or mail donations to The Salvation Army, PO Box 348000, Sacramento, CA 95834.
GoFundMe has also set up a page listing the crowdfunding campaigns for the Camp Fire.
The North Valley Community Foundation has two funds: The Camp Fire Evacuation Relief Fund and the Butte County Schools Fire Relief Fund. Donors can make an open gift to the school fund, or designate a specific use, like textbooks or school supplies. Donations are accepted through the foundations’ website.
Monetary donations may also be made to the American Red Cross. Visit http://www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
The United Way of Northern California is taking donations for its NorCal Fire Relief Fund through its website and by text: send the message BUTTEFIRE to 91999.
For animal relief, the Butte Humane Society at 2580 Fair St. in Chico is accepting pet supplies, such as wet and dry dog and cat food, litter boxes, kennels and carriers, leashes and toys. For those who don’t live nearby, the Humane Society also set up an Amazon wish list to donate pet supplies online.
Source: Chronicle research
Thanks Michael. My company at up links for the Napa fires and the hurricanes, but I haven’t seen anything for this yet. Good info about the specific SA site. They mentioned the two CCs lost in the fire today. And one (or both?) Of those pastors’ homes. Rain coming Wednesday should help a lot, and also with the air quality. I’ve been looking at smoke maps and Fresno has had it worse than Sacramento (and evirons) and the East and North Bay.