I was in conversation the other day about this and it brought me to tears thinking that, for example: At the movie theater shooting in Colorado that happened recently (or any wicked event for that matter), a person is standing there and the two people standing next to them get shot. For one to say 'Thank God' or 'That's part of his plan' for the person on one side just getting wounded and surviving and for the person one the other side who does not survive 'That's just life' or 'That's part of his plan'; I feel that is illogical.
Another example given to me is : 'I rolled over my car and ended up in the back hatch area. Came out without a scratch and the emergency crew stated they don't know how I survived.' 'Thank God for that.' this person stated. Isn't that just part of life or did God intervene for someone to 'Thank God' for surviving; I doubt it. I asked the question 'So, for the people who do not survive in these situations, is that just life or do we 'Thank God' for those cases to?' I get asked, 'What, are we supposed to do 'Thank God' for the wicked or bad things that happen to people?' I answer after a long pause, 'No, but do you 'Thank the Devil' or 'Damn the Devil' for the bad things that happen to people? or is that just life? To shut me up(I think), this person started to say 'Damn the Devil for the wicked that happens.'
I was asked the question 'There's two people in front of you dying, you can only save one. Would you 'Thank God' for allowing you to save one and not the other?' I stated "No, I would hate him for it, for not allowing me to save them both. Why allow me to only save one?' Maybe I hold to high of an expectation of him(and myself), take things I hear from the bible to literally. Why do we not see today some of the 'miracles' that were being described in the Bible. Is it wrong to take to a literal sense 'If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can do it to?' or is that reserved for a higher 'being'? The way I see it 'There is no one on this planet who has faith the size of a mustard seed? or to love another so much to 'heal' them; because I do not see the miracles of the past happening today, why does he not present himself or his power today like what is described in the bible? I have seen some incredible things, but our bodies are very amazing and we still cannot begin to understand the mind and subconscious.
I don't know, I just cannot begin to grasp to something as illogical as that; and it bothers me that others can; either through blindness or they're seeing or feeling something I cannot. I have not read the Bible all the way through or any scriptures, think I may start. In it though, it is stated that he has created us in his image; so, does that mean that he is also capable of greed, wickedness, good, lust, being fooled? And, why create us all so different so that we fight each other over these differences. We fight each other over power, greed, money and worst of all religion; which maybe humans are prone to do because it's possibly human nature or maybe religion plays a big part due to differences in beliefs and ways of living; and possibly many other aspects I cannot begin to state.
It is a good 'let out' to help comprehend things we cannot understand, deal with or control. Because some of the things that we do to each other just does not seem human. It's easy to point a finger and say 'It's all part of His plan', 'They're in a better place now',' I will see them again eventually' because it helps us get through some of the pain. It is very difficult to understand why humanity acts the way it does towards one another and the creatures on this planet; and it is probably just human nature. But, I think we can be better than that.
Read this the other day on the wall at a clinic I had worked at:
The True Meaning of Life
We are visitors on this planet.
We are here for ninety
or one hundred years
at the most.
During that period,
we must try to do
something good,
something useful
with our lives.
If you contribute
to other people's happiness,
you will find the true goal,
the true meaning of life.
His holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama
Maybe this is what the bible is really trying to teach, but I cannot see that from people I encounter who believe in it. It doesn't take much love to love the ones close to you. It takes a whole lot of love to love your enemies. Anyways, I think I'm done with this rant because now I just feel I'm babbling on.
