Why?

Whenever something absolutely horrifying happens in my life, the first question I ask is, "Why?" I'm sure you wonder, too - why does God let awful things happen to genuinely good people? I got some bad news today about a family I'm friends with (one of my students). The thing is, this family is a group of really generous, loving, religious people, and they still had to endure an untimely death in the family. They aren't members of my church, but I know they believe in God and his plan...they are really much better as far as Christian living goes than many people I know from church! So it's clear that God doesn't give us trials to punish us. The reality is, everyone has free will. Heavenly Father, I think, doesn't intervene at every juncture - sometimes he just lets things happen, knowing that they will be tests and trials for us, but that they will make us better people. Still - and this is a big STILL - when our loved ones are taken from us (especially when they are still young, and have young children), the veil remains in place and we don't get to see those people again, at least in this life. It takes a TREMENDOUS amount of faith to move on. And the sorrow is almost overwhelming. This person who died - I don't even know him, but I know and love his family, and I wish there were words I could say, or something I could do, that would help. Instead, all I can do is pray for their comfort. I can't wait until the Millenium, when we'll be "twinkled" instead. All this separation is so difficult.

"What greater gift dost thou bestow...than Christlike friends..."