For the Bruised Grasping at the World of Suffering C. Doug Blair, 2015
Who's to Blame? You done set it up first And it run itself foul Listen to it burn And listen to it growl This wasted opportunity A Paradise so green Sweet peace gone out a-wailin' For somethin' quite obscene The critters used ta frolic But now they tooth and claw And mothers leave their chil'ren The worst I ever saw And man who held dominion And ruled in Eden's calm Now plannin' out each ghetto And playin' with the bomb You coulda done it different You coulda stayed the hand That wanted to play God instead But didn't understand Your one Law held the seed of choice And that the seed of Love And Love is all you ever asked Your perfect plan to prove. Instead man took the steerin' wheel And drove the bus to hell I'm askin God please intervene
And all this rot dispel. I'm guessin' that you're much too grand To jes come down and fix But what if one clean Man you chose To join us in the mix?
Out of the wreck I rise. She came into the coffee shop. Dragging right foot and leg in a rhythmic semi-circle. Cocking a bent right arm skyward as if questioning something. Making all movements with determination. Folks courteously held the door and gave her a place of privilege in the lineup. Her response of "Gee thanks" was uttered in that low forced tone of cerebral palsy. Obviously the staff were familiar with her and her favourite order. They carried the tray over to the one remaining table. It was a busy Saturday. Lots of seniors and little league families enjoying their neighbourhood spot. The young woman noticed that I was busy with my Bible. Out of the corner of my eye I could see her smiling as she arranged her cinnamon bagel and steeped tea. Suddenly..."WWHAAT chapter are you ONN?" I gave her full eye contact, smiled and said "Luke 17. You know Luke is my favourite Gospel, and he wasn't even one of the original disciples." "Seventeen, that was the one with the ten lepers healed. And the one who returned to give thanks wasn't even a Jew. Rather a Samaritan...Hi my name is Marilyn." A delightful conversation followed. Luke the historian. The shepherds coming to Bethlehem. The Good Samaritan. The writer with the most parables of Jesus. The writer showing Jesus' special treatment of women. The only one to give the powerful image of the repentant thief on the cross next to Jesus. The beautiful account of the two men on the Road to Emmaus and the resurrected Christ I noticed that with discussion of scripture and of Jesus the woman's speech difficulty cleared up. I was almost tempted to say something about it, but refrained. I thought to myself 'Yes dear woman the time will come when the presence of Jesus will resolve all of your handicaps, to reveal a beauty outside suitable to match the beauty already within.' After about twenty minutes it was time for her to go. Over to the adjoining grocery store. In her particular fashion, and with her particular glow and grace.
BBYYE Doug. Bye Marilyn.
Overriding Love (Taken from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers) Out of the Wreck I Rise "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Romans 8:35 God does not keep a man immune from trouble; He says "I will be with him in trouble." It does not matter what actual troubles in the most extreme form get hold of a man's life, not one of them can separate him from his relationship to God. We are "more than conquerors in all these things." Paul is not talking of imaginary things, but of things that are desperately actual; and he says we are super-victors in the midst of them, not by our ingenuity, or by our courage, or by anything other than the fact that not one of them affects our relationship to God in Jesus Christ. Rightly or wrongly, we are where we are, exactly in the condition we are in. I am sorry for the Christian who has not something in his circumstances he wishes was not there. "Shall tribulation . . . ?" Tribulation is never a noble thing; but let tribulation be what it may - exhausting, galling, fatiguing, it is not able to separate us from the love of God. Never let cares or tribulations separate you from the fact that God loves you. "Shall anguish . . . ?" - can God's love hold when everything says that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice? "Shall famine . . . ?" - can we not only believe in the love of God but be more than conquerors, even while we are being starved? Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver and Paul is deluded, or some extraordinary thing happens to a man who holds on to the love of God when the odds are all against God's character. Logic is silenced in the face of every one of these things. Only one thing can account for it - the love of God in Christ Jesus. "Out of the wreck I rise" every time.
Afflicted No Longer There must be a freeing of the mind and heart from the shackles of hopelessness. Hospitals are full of stories of remarkable reversals of illness simply because of the indomitable spirit of the patient. A pleasant word; a good confession; a smile; an ability always to laugh; an audacity even in the face of death. I know of many well-intentioned Christians who will give by memory every promise of healing contained in the Bible, and there are many. But perhaps the candidate for healing does not yet have an assurance of Jesus' loving disposition toward him. The ever victorious progression of thought and faith must be as follows. Jesus is proved history. As all-capable Son of God He came from Heaven, taught Heaven and its ethic, returned to Heaven and dwells there presently, working on the development of His Church in partnership with the Father and Spirit. He loves me and has shown me as much in undeniable ways. I thrill to read the account of His earth walk, selfless death and resurrection in the Gospels. I honestly regard Him as my best friend, and place my life and expectations in His hands. I trust Him more than I trust my own wants or understanding. He will bring about the best of all possible good either in me or through me. He has never done less with anyone who has reached out to Him. This sort of abandon brings people to an experience of salvation. It comes as a consequence of the gift of repentance. It comes as the Lord draws the believer to Him. It is not manufactured by persuasion or resolve. The same applies to healing. A well-intentioned Christian worker might place the raw materials of truth, warning and promise before a candidate; offer to pray; continue to lift that individual up in the following weeks. But God will be the One who closes the deal. The victorious recipient, the honest-to-goodness child of faith is the one who can say, as with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him". For such a one there remain no dark corridors to be traveled. The victory has come from within. The happy old Gospel song asserts, "The world didn't give it to me, and the world can't take it away".
Chaplaincy to Whomsoever Visit them. Share in the predicament. Exhort. Pray. Look them square in the face. Name their name. Smile. Wish them God's blessing. Promise to come back. I am reminded of an excellent book by Henri Nouwen. It was entitled The Wounded Healer. In it he wrote of a young candidate for the priesthood who had taken to visiting regularly one chronically ill patient in hospital. The day came when it became clear that a very serious surgery was necessary, one with small percentages of success. The student, very shy and very vulnerable in his service, struggled with what to say, how to encourage in the ordeal.
Finally at the tail end of his visit and with the procedure just hours away, he blurted out, "Harry I can give no guarantees. I have no surefire solution to offer. I only know that we have prayed; that God is good all the time; that I will see you after this is over. Keep looking up." And according to Nouwen that was all that needed to be said; should be said about the providences of God. It had to come from one who was not self-assured, not smug about the conditions of this fallen place, but triumphantly gambling on God. A wounded healer. This is one of our fundamental needs in society; that a caring one will always be there waiting, anticipating the gladsome reunion. It applies to tomorrow morning, the end of the school term, the work assignment abroad, the wandering into sin, the sojourn in jail or in hospital, the entrance into Glory. Love watches and waits and welcomes.
Don't Waste Your Sorrows Years ago I was given a copy of a book by this title. The donor, Bob was a friend who taught a class of special needs children. He was aware that Hilary and I were going through difficulties and he wanted to encourage us with honest insight on the purposes of suffering. The author Paul Billheimer had enjoyed a vibrant ministry together with his wife until a serious heart attack put him on his back with little or no chance of returning to his beloved vocation. The Billheimers stayed close to the promises of God regarding healing and submitted to extensive treatment. The sense of hopelessness passed with the increasing realization of God's presence and love. Paul was returned to activity as counsel for the TBN Network (Paul and Jan Crouch). The testing and victory led to the above-mentioned book which is a part of a trilogy of titles (Purposes in prayer; purposes in suffering; priority of love). I strongly recommend this writer. He suggests that the greatest Sufferer of all is God who is so grossly misunderstood and maligned by the greater number of people. He is sovereign however, and His plans will succeed. He desires to partner with faithful children who are learning progressively to understand His nature and to walk in His ways. He wishes to accomplish His will in response to faithful prayer. Indeed, John Wesley went so far as to say that God will do nothing on this planet except in response to prayers and supplications from His children. We have a huge job to do in the way of intercession and we are told repeatedly in the New Testament that we are to PRAY - for friends, ministers, persons in authority, the sick, the deprived, the lonely, the wayward. But how are such prayers to be offered with fervency? The answer is Christ-like compassion. How is that
compassion to come? Identification with the real facts and issues and challenges behind the case. How is that identification to come? SUFFERING. Therefore one must not "waste" his sorrows, through fretting, self-pity, anger or despondency. Look for the opportunities. Gain the audacity and the resource. Grow in Christ. Allow the greatness of His suffering and ultimate victory to chisel away at the size of your portion of gloom. And whatever the circumstances there is always cause to rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4)and one's inevitable inheritance by faith. Someone needs to hear this today. Someone needs to know that there is a precious currency and partnership in suffering.
Times Spent in Job
I go back to the Bible book of Job many times. Not because I have a morbid desire to examine suffering; rather because in it I find a most involved Lord who is in charge of everything, even the devil, and who turns mourning into dancing in His own right time. The devil is real. The world is fallen. The hazards are many. None of this is beyond the Divine, or represents a failure or something that fell through the cracks. The fall of Lucifer because of pride (Isaiah 14) was foreseen by God as was the fall of Adam. That eventuality
has been used to draw closer candidates for salvation and cleansing, to deepen relationship and trust, to provide stirring examples of hope and resilience and to generate hunger for Heaven and God’s ultimate community. The devil is sent on asignment.
But what about Job’s kids and livestock? They all get killed in this crucible. The children paid a price for irreverence, that is true. God’s greater purposes for the blessing of the Race have often required bloodshed and loss. He is sovereign; nobody challenges His agenda (read about Noah’s Flood or the rebukes of the prophet Amos).
For a time near the end of the Book Job attempts a pathetic challenge as God arises out of the storm. In the Lord’s comments one finds ample proof of His endless involvement with His creation, His understanding and cherishing, His rescue and coordination. Job also is a subject of this keeping care and the undying kernel of his trust causes him to repent in dust and ashes. A mighty victory has been won. He is instructed to stand as priest for the errors of his pompous friends in this ordeal. The restoration of his estate and household joy is swift.
I find here some of the richest of literature. I have walked with this Book through personal crises. I am armed with answers for those who complain, “How could a loving God do or allow this terrible thing?”
I am trusting as God gives the grace, and confident that I am never in a place more seemingly hopeless than Job. And remember friends, God was there for Job. Testing his pulse every step of the way; knowing that new intimacy was to be the outcome.
Oh Yeah, I Heard
You took the job Didn’t have much choice you thought Way out of your league New work-mates snickered Made it awkward at break times. Homeward bound you prayed That I would make a way Make my will clear.
(You were chafing at my choice in this. Oh yes you were.) You even asked “Where was I?� Son, had I been in hiding? Did I have other things of greater importance? Hear me now! There is nothing more important. Those men on the job-site Knew you were different Took stock of your moderation Your steadiness, your language. They knew you were in the wringer But not grousing. Just trying harder And finding some satisfaction In the new skills The new stamina and spring to your step. You were coming through, Son And coming to me more often.
That was my delight. And I would pour more in Stuff that your satisfied self In earlier days Never would have caught. Then the job slowed. Pink slips handed out. Thankful, respectful men Shook your hand. One…guy by the name of Harvey Wished you Godspeed Said he had been praying all along. (Another one of my men. A little shy, that one.) Seemed like a firing, didn’t it? Well, it was a graduation of sorts. And other doors opened. And you get it now, don’t you. My hand never left your shoulder.
Yancey Does It Again
This morning I finished this short and compelling book on suffering and God's part. Philip Yancey approaches every assignment with a sufficient degree of everyman's skepticism. Here he looks in 2013 at three very different recent catastrophes - the tsunami in Japan, the ravaging 4 year warsiege of Sarajevo and the senseless shooting of primary grade children in a Connecticut school. There are numerous personal testimonies and viewpoints. Did God allow these horrors? Where was He when people's lives were ripped apart? Could His Love bear to stand aside? Is the planet broken and chaotic? Is humanity irrevocably corrupted? Can He be relied upon to protect or rescue? Or does He find ways to redeem every pain and loss eventually? Or does He bring out unanticipated compassionate response in those who are at hand. Stories of courage and clinging hope abound in the book, as well as helpful quotes from the likes of C. S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonnhoeffer, Alfred Lord Tennyson, John Donne, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, E. Stanley Jones, Chaim Potok and Albert Camus. He also explores a list of devastating under-prayed Christian responses to the overwhelmed and grieving. Things like "This makes you stronger; God called the loved one early; More faith needed to be exercised; God was clearly judging sinful practices of the community."
Does Yancey see a way through? Not entirely. He starts by assuring us that Divinity entered into the fullness of the human sphere and shared in exposure to wickedness and suffering and death. It is interesting that the Connecticut shootings occurred in the Christmas month. Jesus arrived in the wickedness of Herodian and Roman complicity. At Easter a Father Who is all Love watched the humiliation and murder of His only begotten Son. Feel the rage and pain of many of the Psalms of the Shepherd-King. God is here. God is Love. God empathizes. Undoubtedly the planet and humanity reel from the polluting consequences of the Fall and that very necessary hazard known as free will. The Word of God pictures an ultimate redemption of all suffering and loss, and a family gathering (Revelation chapters 19 through 22). It also affirms the present travail of the Creation awaiting the fullness of glory to be revealed in the faith brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ (Romans 8). Look up and ahead and away...and laugh. (But I may have to sit quietly and respectfully alongside your suffering for a considerable period before uttering anything that audacious. Time and touch also work toward special peace and recovery.)
Providence
I thought that I knew What you’re going through. I thought that I knew‌ I was wrong. I once had a bout Of similar vein, Of similar pain. But not yours. I sensed that the world Had turned on me, A cruel destiny, Without hope. And even my prayers Met brazen skies. The tears, the cries. Where was God?
But one day the blue Returned above. I felt His love, And it passed. I now see the test Had made me grow; Christ’s heart to know. I was changed. And this was to be My providence, Of little sense, ‘Til I learned That God has a plan Which must use loss, To show the Cross To each child. So I will not dare Say what to do, ‘Til His work’s through, And you’ve won. But I will be here, A needed friend, An ear to bend, Like the Son. I thought that I knew What you’re going through. I thought that I knew… I was wrong. Note: We have been reminded that Job's friends did their greatest service when simply sitting in the sufferer's corner and keeping their mouths shut. "Providence" has been defined as follows: (initial capital letter) God, esp. when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.
Afterward (Today's entry in Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman) Music of the Storm "Nevertheless afterward" (Heb. 12:11). There is a legend that tells of a German baron who, at his castle on the Rhine, stretched wires from tower to tower, that the winds might convert them into an Aeolian harp. And the soft breezes played about the castle, but no music was born. But one night there arose a great tempest, and hill and castle were smitten by the fury of the mighty winds. The baron went to the threshold to look out upon the terror of the storm, and the Aeolian harp was filling the air with strains that rang out even above the clamor of the tempest. It needed the tempest to bring out the music! And have we not known men whose lives have not given out any entrancing music in the day of a calm prosperity, but who, when the tempest drove against them have astonished their fellows by the power and strength of their music?
"Rain, rain Beating against the pane! How endlessly it pours Out of doors From the blackened sky I wonder why! "Flowers, flowers, Upspringing after showers, Blossoming fresh and fair, Everywhere! Ah, God has explained Why it rained!" You can always count on God to make the "afterward" of difficulties, if rightly overcome, a thousand times richer and fairer than the forward. "No chastening... seemeth joyous, nevertheless afterward . . ." What a yield!
From Luke 4
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.