Get ready. This one’s heavy!
Where is God in tragedy? Now there is a question never asked before…(cough). Regardless of your belief system, when you lose a child, I guarantee that you will question everything you believe. Here’s a few thoughts from our journey. Was it ‘God’s will’ that Chris died? Some sort of master plan…everything happens for a reason you know. Really?? Don’t get me going on that one. You know where my mind went? Was it God’s will that 6 million Jews perished in the Holocaust?
Don’t think so.
I don’t really know why, but I then thought about the difference between humans and animals. Generally speaking, animals will operate more by instinct and humans have a unique ability to make choices that go beyond instinctual needs. Ever seen the Dog Whisperer show with Cesar Millan? That guy is amazing as he teaches people how to work with their ‘out-of-control’ dogs. You’ll hear a constant theme..don’t treat your dog with human emotions…they are dogs. Watch the show a couple of times and you’ll see some great illustrations of how we as humans are different from dogs (I realize this may sound silly, but most of Cesar’s ‘interventions’ stem from people applying human logic and decision making with their pets).
So if you would allow me, I’ll suggest the following. I believe our ability to make choices…some would call this ‘free will’, is so sacred, it’s part of our spiritual DNA….and this is hard to type…even when those choices end up with dire and unintended outcomes. I believe this ability to choose is protected to the point that surpasses human understanding.
Now here’s the wild part. You know what has been the most EMPOWERING, HEALING, and SPIRITUAL part of our journey without Chris so far? It has been our ability to CHOOSE. It has been our ability to make DECISIONS. It has been our ability to celebrate the one million good choices Chris made. It’s been our CHOICES that have kept us going. In that ability to CHOOSE we have found strength and a greater understanding of our very human and spiritual DNA.
Is God dead? Your choice, but I think not…I think God lives in every decision we are empowered to make.
Be The Best. 
3 replies on “God is dead?”
John Steinbeck’s book ‘East of Eden’ is about ‘free will’. The human ability to choose and to make decisions. A clever weave of characters and plot that unfolds a delicate balance of choice resulting in good decisions and misguided decisions. Beyond the decisions are the resulting ripples in the pond.. In the book, free will has been given a name – it is called ‘Timshel’. It is an old but brilliantly written book. I have it still; its pages yellowed from the years.
Your writing provokes thought, Randy.
Randy, your eloquence and candor is absolutely amazing and your use of technology to reach out through your pain is inspiring and enlightening. All best wishes and thoughts for you and your family,
Cynthia
I have been thinking about ‘East of Eden’ as well. (read it for the 1st time at Christmas this past year). Randy – you have articulated so well what is so confusing and so mysterious to so many. Powerful and life changing thoughts that propel us into life changing action.