Since December 13, 2008, I have been
dealing with the basic and intrinsic question about the presence of God in the
midst of suffering and pain. The
privilege to journey with the families of the fallen soldiers from the conflict in Afghanistan instigated, once again, the desire to find an answer or
resolution to this important question.
Quite a few of us have asked this question in the midst of suffering and
pain. In my opinion, the question
emanates from the feeling of isolation from the presence of God. Grief can be so profound and debilitating
that a person in the midst of it cannot recognize and feel the presence of
God. Along with the isolation, as we
have been told by some individuals, that they felt betrayed by the loving, all controlling and knowing God who allowed
those calamities and tragedies to happen in their lives. Regardless of the reasons for this question,
suffering and pain not only changes our lives but also shakes the foundations
of our faith. I saw and witnessed the
presence of God, in spite of the raw grief and emotions, in the above mentioned aspects of my life. There
were indeed moments of grace and peace in the midst of awful tragedy and grief. Some of the examples of those moments, I remember, are: immediate family and friends able to have a chuckle while they shared the stories of the deceased with one another, community coming together to support the family, youth openly expressing their sorrow and taking initiatives to acknowledge the supreme sacrifice on their own and everyone setting aside their differences and their faith tradition coming together to support the family and
one another. In those moments of grace and compassion and the outpouring of endless love strengthened my faith that God
is present in the midst of suffering through the common actions of kindness,
love, and support of one another. We may struggle to see and feel the presence of God; however, we should know and believe that empowers and blesses us in many ways.
Archbishop Rowan Williams was in Manhattan conducting Parish Mission at
Trinity Episcopalian Church on September 11, 2001. He shared his experience and insights into a
book titled, “Writing in the Dust.” In that
book he wrote, “And in the face of
extreme dread, we may become conscious, as people often do, of two very
fundamental choices. We can cling harder and harder to the rock of our threatened
identity--- a choice, finally, for self-delusion over truth; or we can accept
that we shall have no ultimate choice but to let go, and in that letting go,
give room to what’s there around us---to the sheer impression of the moment,
the need of the person next to you, to the fear that needs to be looked at,
acknowledged and calmed (not denied). If
that happens, the heart has room for many strangers, near and far. There is a global hospitality possible too in
the presence of death.” The feeling
of isolation from God must be acknowledged, respected and worked at but while
all of that is happening the presence of God is in our desire to reach out and
extend hospitality, love and support to everyone in our midst.
