My God – My God why have you forsaken us?

It has been hard to find my muse the past few weeks – Partly because December is a busy time of year for my business – Partly because I far more enjoy the idea of Christmas than the practical (read commercialized) aspects of the holiday. I love the decorations, the music, and the food. I love the gathering of kith and kin but hate the hustle and bustle.

And then, Last Friday happened. No details are necessary, except that the name of Sandy Hook Elementary School will forever hold a special meaning for our nation.  We began a nationwide lament…in the wake of extreme and unfathomable tragedy…we collectively have called out, My God My God why have you forsaken us.

I must admit, I too have wondered; where was God? How could God?

Trying to imagine the evil necessary to kill 20 innocent 6 & 7 year old children and we begin to think God must no longer be present. We blame guns and government. We point at those who believe differently; who for some amazing reason have caused our God to choose to not be present. All while invoking the age old lament of being forgotten and uncared for by God.

However, I submit to you that even Jesus himself called out and asked why? In the end on the cross, Jesus asked why God had forsaken him (although some scholars translate the quote my God my God, why was I born to this). Jesus felt the despair of the world; he understood the feeling that God was not present.

In the Old Testament the Psalmist cried out:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?” Psalm 22:1

Job also expressed the feeling of despair and that God had forsaken him:

“If only my anguish could be weighed
and all my misery be placed on the scales!
It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—
no wonder my words have been impetuous.
The arrows of the Almighty are in me,
my spirit drinks in their poison;
God’s terrors are marshaled against me. Job 6:2-4

Yet, we lament as if we were the first. We lament as if circumstances were the fault of God. However, I question anyone who claims God is not among us. I question whether God is in them.

I’m not afraid to say – I often wonder if God is in me?

Am I good enough? Am I behaving in a Christ-like way?

Are we not the vessels of God? Are we not commanded to go forth as Christians and be like Christ?

In this troubled time it is easy for us; as the Jews did 2000 years ago, to see God as someone who will march in with an army and save us. Yet, God sent a baby to the Jews – A sweet innocent child.

How do we assume that we are better than that child? Are we in some way deserving of retributions? Are we in some way deserving of the special protections of God in an evil world? Why do we talk of punishments? Why do we speak of ‘our rights’? Jesus never once asked for his rights. I have yet to find a commandment to go forth and demand our rights. But I find plenty of references to love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” In John 13: 34-35 Jesus says “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I am disheartened to see that we, Christians, are the first to want to fight back. That we as Christians are the first to be angry that ‘our God’ has some how been marginalized by a governmental agency. Is not our God bigger than any governmental body? Is not the almighty God able to go where and when he pleases?

My God, my savior is with me where ever I go!

Isn’t that the lesson we learn as children? God is with us. God is in us!

I offer you no answers today. I make no claims to know the mind of God. But I do know that evil exists. I do believe that God allows free-will.

I do know it is your choice to reflect the love of Christ or to follow your own path of anger and punishment.