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“Bad vs. Good”
Chaplain’s Article
For FTR Magazine – September Issue
August 14, 2004
What a week. They say things come in threes. Before I could get my article
to the FTR presses, I had to leave for my grandmother’s funeral
(the weekend of the FTR Fun Run). When I returned from the funeral I
discovered my computer needed work. I was without a computer for three
days. Next, Hurricane Charley is making landfall and is predicted to
come straight for us. We, like many of you, were busy packing and strapping
things down.
Though we hated to lose a grandmother she is no longer suffering in
her earthly body. Mike Perry repaired my computer (I’m typing on
it now). And Hurricane Charley is now downgraded to a tropical storm
currently making its way up the Carolina coast. Hopefully its fury will
diminish to sprinkles and then give way to sunshine.
Randy Faul called me about an hour ago. The storm did enormous damage
to his home and surrounding area, but they were safe. Ragan (my wife),
just received a call to tell us that her uncle (in the Winter Park area)
lost their cars to trees, the water was sucked out of the pool and the
in-ground pool was lifted up from its resting place. I wonder about our
FTR Family? How did our friends in the Punta Gorda and Sarasota areas
do? I don’t know yet. It’s possible that some may have lost
a family member, a friend, a home, or business. I pray not. Nevertheless,
I’m sure the hurricane of August, Friday the 13th, 2004 will be
seared in our memories for a long time.
Generally, in the post stages of any traumatic and life changing event
we all have a tendency to ask the question… Why? Why did this happen
to me? As a minister I’ve heard it many times. I have even asked
it myself. Is tragedy a respecter of persons? No. Is it a respecter of
one’s financial or social status? No. Why is the life of an innocent
child taken in a car wreck while the drunken driver walks away? Why did
the fire take the business of the hard working family and leave them
penniless, while the crooked family’s business grows larger and
larger? Why do the children of respectable, well intending parents end
up doing unrespectable things? Why do bad things happen to good people?
Sometimes this question is unanswerable because decisions are made beyond
our control. Then there are times we make decisions that are knowingly
foolish. What we do impacts one another. It’s an incredible concept.
Many books and articles have been written through the ages of time in
discussion of this topic. I too could spend hours talking about it, but
I will save it for another article some day.
I’m reminded of a story. I have a friend with two children. He
loved these kids. He provided them with everything they needed. They
wanted for nothing. They had the best of food. They lived in the best
environment. They had the best education. Some might say these kids lived
a very sheltered life, but this father loved these children with all
his might. However, they chose to go in a different direction. How could
it be? This father had spent an enormous amount of quality time with
his kids. They were taught right from wrong. Yet they were free to make
their own choices and they did. He was devastated. How could they choose
a life so different from what they were taught? His pain was great. He
asked why? He asked how could you? And though He disciplined them like
a good parent should, his love for his children was no less. You may
know this individual. He is my Heavenly Father. His children were His
own creation, Adam and Eve. I tell you this to remind you that God knows
how you feel. He is not some disenfranchised being in deep space. He
is concerned about our every need because His love for us is great, He
has grieved many times over the decision we make or the losses we have
experienced. During those times you felt alone, you never were. He was
there. However, He’s the perfect gentleman. He’s not going
to barge in your life and take control, though He would like to. HeHe
waits on you to call on Him. If your relationship with God has been broken
this is a good time to mend it. Maybe you have never personally met Him.
Maybe you have only heard others talk about Him and the difference He
can make in your life. I urge you to call on Him today. I’ve never
met a person who truly had a relationship with God and regretted it.
I’m available if you have questions. You can reach me be phone
or email. Till then, be safe.
See you at the races,
Andy Dickson
“Run the race with endurance, the course that has been laid out
for you” (Hebrews 12:1). |
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