Photo was taken at Vernon, France

Despite recent cold weather, there are plenty of signs that spring is indeed nearly here. Primroses always add lovely colour during this month of February.

Thought on Friday – February – 13/02/2015

Thought For The Week

‘My God, my God why have you forsaken me.’ ~Matthew 27:46

There has been much reaction to Gay Byrne’s programme ‘The Meaning Of Life’. At the end of his programme last weekend he asked Stephen Fry what he would say to God if he encountered “him, her, or it” at the gates of heaven. Fry’s response caused a stir among viewers. He said, “I’ll say, ‘Bone cancer in children? What’s that about? How dare you? How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that’s not our fault. It’s not right. It’s utterly utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?”

This response has since gone viral creating millions of views online? But should this come as a major surprise? The bible is a collection of stories spanning thousands of years. Throughout these stories many writers have also expressed their frustration and impatience with God. One classic example is the Book of Job and he discusses why innocent people suffer. Job was a good man but Job lost all his possessions. Job’s children died and Job became so ill that he also wanted to die. But somehow in the midst of terrible loss when it was easier to give up he didn’t. The psalms written thousands of years ago are also a collection of life stories from celebration to feeling totally abandoned by God. Jesus in his moment of desolation also uttered: “My God, why have you forsaken me?”

It is human, normal and healthy to express frustration and anger including directing it at God. We don’t have all the answers to life’s uncertainties and setbacks. But if we believe God is love then we know that God doesn’t create misery or misfortune. God becomes our light and stepping stone through the darkest moments of our lives.

Thought For The Week is updated each Monday