Sometimes, descriptions of the nature of God lose their meaning. For instance, God is love. God is kind. After a conversation with a discouraged person who is upset with God, I began to think. Maybe it would help to specify what God is not. Especially in light of the horrible weather tragedies. So, here goes...
God is not arbitrary.
God is not cruel.
God is not unjust.
God is not callous.
How can we understand, then, the bad that happens to us and others? By changing the way we think.
Being on the receiving end of discipline as a child was not fun. I did not think that it was an expression of my parents' love. I thought a spanking hurt - especially my pride. I usually disliked being corrected when I said or did something mean to my siblings. But, the result was that discipline shaped my character for the better. I have benefited by it.
I'm not saying that tragedy equals discipline. But, as in discipline, it is not fun or enjoyable. Despite that, in tragedy and hardship, let's search for goodness, pour out love, banish bitterness and learn something. God created good. Life is good. Every breath is a blessing.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Goodbye to Endeavor
The last flight of the space shuttle Endeavor is scheduled for tomorrow. After it, Atlantis will make a final voyage in July. These will end an exciting 30-year chapter in our nation's history. A history that included tragedy and amazing discoveries.
NASA has not developed a replacement or improved spacecraft. The last flight of Endeavor really does mean an end to our country's heart for space endeavors. So much has been gained and so much remains yet to done.
I mourn the loss of this dream and my heart aches to see the passion of our country for space exploration fade out and fizzle only to be replaced by an obsession with fantasy sci fi. We don't seem to have the passion to be a world leader any more. And, I believe this stems from a spiritual failure.
We lack the faith to dream, to fail and to try again. Our vision has been obscured by greedy corporations, terrorist threats and, worst of all, complacency. We want our MTV, our refrigerators, our HD TVs, and our cell phones. And, if we have those, we can retreat from the world and the responsibilities that come with privilege and freedom. So, goodbye Endeavor - in every sense of the world.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/15/chiao.spaceshuttle.farewell/index.html?hpt=C1
NASA has not developed a replacement or improved spacecraft. The last flight of Endeavor really does mean an end to our country's heart for space endeavors. So much has been gained and so much remains yet to done.
I mourn the loss of this dream and my heart aches to see the passion of our country for space exploration fade out and fizzle only to be replaced by an obsession with fantasy sci fi. We don't seem to have the passion to be a world leader any more. And, I believe this stems from a spiritual failure.
We lack the faith to dream, to fail and to try again. Our vision has been obscured by greedy corporations, terrorist threats and, worst of all, complacency. We want our MTV, our refrigerators, our HD TVs, and our cell phones. And, if we have those, we can retreat from the world and the responsibilities that come with privilege and freedom. So, goodbye Endeavor - in every sense of the world.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/15/chiao.spaceshuttle.farewell/index.html?hpt=C1
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