By: Brittany

Brittany — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:49:16 +0000

Nate, thanks for sharing. I love hearing about books people are reading, especially you. I wrote a poem called “Us” that talks about sharing that pain in community. Check on my blog or f/b. Another book that incredibly changed my view on suffering and prayer and broke a lot of “Christianeze” thoughts in my head is When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner. Some of his theological views are a little distorted but overall, it’s amAAAzing. One of the most prfound things I learned is how so many things we say, think, etc. as Christians when others/we ourselves are suffering are so messed up. Like when someone survives an accident for example, I have been guilty of thinking, “God really had a plan for their life. That’s why they were spared.” What about everyone else who gets prayed for just as much and are not “spared.” It’s easy to become more cynical after reading this book, BUT also much more empathetic. Because as I TRULY believe, God doesn’t “will” for any of us to suffer nor is it in his “plan.” (We’ve grown up with all these terms and they kind of make me sick!) Rather, God’s plans are higher than our own and sometimes the answer is simply, I don’t know. And we have to choose to believe God’s love is not bestowed on people differently based on how much tragedy, etc. they experience. And as Kushner says, “What if things just happen for no reason?” Sorry for the rambling, but this idea of suffering as a community is a very passionate subject for me. Check out the book if you haven’t already!!!! LOVE YOU. BTW thanks for the response to my email. You were practically 100% right in your observations. It meant a lot that you took the time to really read and respond. Did Kat read it too? *Hugs* Can’t wait to see you guys!

Comments on: It ALL effects the Community

By: Brittany