Thursday, January 19, 2006

Mystery and Suffering

Well, it's already a new year. Time for me to attempt to blog some more!

On a sad note; we had some terrible news a few weeks ago.

A dear friend was killed while riding his motorcycle - just as he was almost home from a Sunday morning ride. It was not his fault, and the driver of the other vehical was arrested. Worse still, was the fact that his wife had not yet returned home from a lovely retreat that same weekend, and was coming back on the day of the accident. So sad.

It is impossbile to understand when and how these things happen, and why. However, it does serve as a brutal reminder that we live in a very broken world which God did not intend.

I read a great quote recently about the mystery of God. It may not apply perfectly to the above situation, which pertains to the mystery of suffering, but I think the Monk that wrote this was onto something:

"Mysteries are not dark shadows, before which we must shut our eyes and be silent. On the contrary, they are dazzling splendours, with which we ought to sate our gaze, whilst recognizing, however, that they extend far beyond its capacity, and that our eyes cannot bear their full radiance. It is in contemplating them, in speaking of them, that we dispose ourselves to be given even here below as much of them as God see's fit to impart to us, and to receive one day that fullness of light which will be the essense of our beatitude."

Anonymous Carthusian Monk. From "Ordinary Graces", edited by Lorraine Kisly.

We have been praying that our friend, who's dear husband was killed, receives a measure of this blessing, but more so, that she senses the deepest comfort from God Himself.

One mystery is the only thing that seems to meet the challenge of another mystery - this calls us to faith when there are no other answers.

Blessings to you.

Cheers!