Monday, November 30, 2009
Hope
I’ve been thinking about hope since yesterday. I’m a very positive person, or at least I think I am, and sure I have hope for those around me, but hope for the world is lacking. Last week I was reading about human trafficking and child pornography and it has haunted me since. Last night I didn’t even want to take communion. How can there be so much injustice in the world. How could a God of love allow this to happen? I realize I’m not the first person to ask this question and I won’t be the last. Human suffering is an age old question which all religions have attempted to deal with, but last night I was reminded of why I am drawn to the Christian explanation. The world is broken and it’s filled with broken people. He chose these broken people to change the world, one person at a time. It all starts with me and you. Being in the Schroeder’s home with the em des gang last night has renewed my hope.
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3 comments:
EmDes has been my hope lately too, Matt. Maybe it's the Schroeder's relentless hospitality, maybe it's the love the that flows from Debbie and Sheri as they share their hearts and souls.
As far as the suffering, I feel more and more stifled by it. I'm angry at God because there seems to be no one else to blame. Sometimes it haunts me and sometimes it paralyzes me.
I used to have this answer:
God allows suffering to preserve free will.
Somehow that's not doing it for me anymore. Maybe I've lost sight of the true importance of free will. Maybe I've lost sight of God entirely.
Okay - I'm depressing myself. I'm done.
Matt, I'm glad you drew hope from last night. I know we have all missed you...
hey matt! great post, great thoughts. sorry we missed you! i also get a lot of hope and encouragement from emdes. i'm constantly inspired by the great people in the group.
Thanks for sharing that Matt. I've been thinking about it quite a bit.
I was actually told by a pastor of mine that I am a very negative person. I'm not sure how much of that is true, but I'm not sure if I have hope for the world.
I guess when I see the horribleness in the world (human trafficking, child abuse, rape, genocide...) my reaction is to get pissed and upset. I'm angered that people can do those things to other people and I also feel a lot of sadness for those being treated unjustly. I guess my hope is that God feels the same way about these things that I do. I'm not sure...I mean, should I expect him to react more if he does? It ends up being something that I'd rather not think about, almost in some kind of agnostic reaction.
Then I catch the end of this program on CNN honoring heros. Ordinary people who did extraordinary things, like Shane Claiborne's Ordinary Radicals sort of things. It was very moving and hope inspiring to see that contrary to the crap inside of us, there is also the ability to do great good. I guess I'm hopeful that people can see that. I'm just not sure where God is in all of that any more.
It was a great surprise to see you Sunday. Hope you'll be able to make it by again soon.
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