why

On the way to work this morning the talk on the radio was all about the tragedy at Ft. Hood, Texas. One caller to the show talked about how God knew us as we were formed in our mother's womb and how he knows the time, place and way of our death. The caller continued to say that in so knowing, our deaths are part of God’s plan. By extension, she was saying that what happened at Ft. Hood was preordained, that it was God’s plan.

To say that such events are preordained is to deny the gift of free will God gave us at creation. He gave us choice.  To chose God or to chose self. That man in Texas who shot all those innocents acted out of his free will, his own personal choices.  I get that people are searching to explain what happened and why it happened and to say it is part of God’s plan somehow makes it easier and less horrible – because it is God’s Plan we are somehow spared a less horrifying reality about ourselves...

The truth is we are all capable of what that man in Texas did – we are all capable of horrible crimes – we are just one choice away.  That truth we do not like to hear or accept.  We have to look in the mirror each morning, and we do not want to see the monster that can exist in us...remember we are all saint and sinner at the same time!  There is no escaping that truth.

Now, I most certainly believe in an omniscient and omnipresent God.  I believe therefore that God knows all things and certainly could intervene. Yet, as far as we know God did not intervene, or did He? So - - where was God in all that happened? That is a more important question to ponder. God was present in the actions of all the caregivers, the comforters, and the first responders.  God was with those who suffered and died. The mysteries of the Holy Spirit and his/her actions I cannot explain, yet I do believe.  

I also believe in a loving, caring, forgiving God who weeps with us in horrific times and celebrates with us in times of great joy.  Yet, I do acknowledge as scripture says "God's thoughts are not my thoughts".

Yet, it remains that this world’s condition is a consequence of sin a direct result of OUR choices.  The question to ask now is, “WHAT WILL WE DO?”