Keep the faith going
Along with the stories of devastation in Uttarakhand, inspiring incidents of hope and humanity are also being revealed. In the midst of our worst fears and frustration, the rescue workers, mainly the defence personnel, have lifted up our drooping spirits.
Most of the soldiers did what they did not for faith in one particular religion but as their “faith” in the call of duty to the country and fellow citizens.
However, it is surprising that many pilgrims said that they would not return to the Char Dham Yatra to visit the holy shrines because of the disaster wrought by the natural calamity. Some are also questioning God’s “cruel” action and, by extension, their faith in the Divine.
There are no easy answers to such questions, especially when the tragedy has hit hard a family or an individual.
The deeply philosophical and theological and yet perennial question related to God’s love and care pops up immediately: “If God is all loving and merciful, then why did He do this, that too when we were going to thank and worship Him?” And, “If God is good and powerful, why didn’t He prevent the cloud burst and save lives?”
This is certainly not the first time that our faith is thus challenged. In fact, our faith is challenged every day in different situations, sometimes seriously and other times less so. And there are definitely no easy answers to such questions, especially when the tragedy has hit hard a family or an individual.
God in the Bible tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55: 8-9).
If our finite mind can know God’s infinite mind then what would be the difference between God and us? Also, such questions would mean that all those who pray and observe religious duties faithfully, would not face pain, loss, grief and death ever?
The Christian belief is that death does not end life, it changes it.
The Bible says, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body” (Matthew 10: 28), and, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8: 28).
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