Once again we are awash in images of
disaster, the deaths of innocent children, lives have been cut tragically short. These
portraits of suffering become etched in our minds, reminding us of the
fragility of life. Sacred innocence has been lost, unpreventable as a result of
what the public calls “An act of God”
In the above statement we are confronted with
some of the most profound questions of human existence. How do we reconcile the
existence of divinity with events that clearly represent the very antithesis of
what we believe divinity to embody?
What place does our collective belief have in events that lead to tragedy
for the most vulnerable among us?
We are clearly confronted with the
realization that the monotheistic theory of omnipotence of divinity has little
role in these incidents. These insights lead us to ask where is divinity in such
events? We come face to face with
the fact that the equal opportunity destroyer that is nature is blind to human
suffering.
So where is divinity in the wake of this crisis
in Oklahoma? As a disaster
responder who has carried the bodies of children, I would argue that divinity arrives at the site of the disaster with
those that respond and those who survive. In their resilience, resolve,
generosity and willingness to reach out to those suffering divinity is manifest.
For those who believe in the Gods there is no
acceptable answer to the quandary of suffering. If we realize that divinity
suffers, sheds tears and grives at our side in our response, than true compassion and willingness to sacrifice
self is manifested and we begin to see divinity in the resulting
actions of compassion. .
In my belief system, we are all parts of the
grand dance that is divinity. Everything interconnected. What happens to one of
us happens to all of us. Tragedy geographically removed is personal. If we all
contain the spark of divinity it follows that what happens to one part of the
body of divinity happens to us all.
Over the years I have seen responses to
disaster that transcend what I would have ever thought possible. In Haiti
convicts who escaped when the prison collapsed were re arrested while assisting
in the search for survivors. Entire community’s suddenly become united in the
face of disaster, concepts such as, race, politics, economic status and privilege
suddenly collapse and humanity is united by their internal sparks of divinity.
So where are the Gods in the face if
disaster? Inside humanity, contained in our collective desire to act as one, in
the actions of teachers protecting their charges, in the funds donated to the
effort, in the hearts of the first responders and in the incredible courage of those
facing loss on an unimaginable scale.
Yes, there are the moments when disaster
calls our thoughts to considering the very existence of the Gods. Such thoughts
are soon washed away in witnessing the power of divinely manifested compassion
and unity in the resulting response. These are the real “Acts of God(ess)”
4 comments:
Peter, thanks for raising this question, which is fundamental to any courageous believer. I faced this issue myself when, as a Christian ministry student serving in Rocky Mountain National Park, we experienced several devastating events within a single month. (Including a flood which pretty much wiped out the town I was working in.)
Back then, I gave a sermon that said that effect, that we did not have an answer to the "why" question, only the knowledge that God was radically with His creation. (As demonstrated by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.)
In that moment, although I did not yet know it, I abandoned my faith in the "All-Powerful" Father God -- because circumstances had showed me that I had a choice between believing in an omnipotent deity and a compassionate one.
Now, as a Pagan, Goddess-centric Witch, I would choose different thealogical terms to describe my beliefs about theodicy. But my soul's answer remains the same: God/dess weeps with us for Oklahoma, and encourages us to do what we can to help. That is all that we can know.
Gods are often hostile within the traditional lore, as evident in Homer and other places. Merciful people will align with merciful gods for mercy in their service, or as allies. Assuming that all gods are well-disposed towards all people, however, is just silly.
While it sucks that all those lives were lost, I seriously feel like natural disasters like this is simply nature's own population control. This world is so overpopulated and we're choking it, slowly killing off everything so we can become a "better society". Its nature going "look kids, I was here first, I'm taking back my space and letting everything grow again. Here's a way for you to start over, now do this right".
If you want to see the Divinity in it, think of it this way: there were thousands upon possibly millions living in those cities. Yes people were hurt. Yes, a few people were killed. But it could've been a LOT worse. The tiniest fraction out of the whole were injured or killed instead of a whole school full of kids, or anyone along the two mile wide path. I mean, come on-we can't expect the gods to do everything for us.
Beautiful post. It's what I believe, too.
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