The Good of God

One of the really positive results of the classroom prep for Vision last year was Janice Poorman's criticism of "Everything happens for a reason." My older brother had introduced me to some of the pitfalls of this cliche, and over time, I began to realize there are better ways to communicate that sentiment.

Between losing my computer harddrive and some of its precious content, a break-up that weighed on me more than it should have, and plenty of other things, I have learned how good can come of basically anything.

God is omnipotent and all-powerful, having made everything that is. So why in the world would He not be able to make good come from anything that could possibly happen in this world? God does not delight in what we would call "bad things" happening, but He certainly does not give up on anything or anyone.

The challenge for us is to not become overly connected to our definitions of good and bad and to remember that God can and will find good in everything. We must aim to consider how God will do that. We must try to meet Him in the good, embracing and enjoying the light that God shines for us and with us.

If my words seem jumbled and unclear, let's go to the Sunday Gospel that revived this thread in my mind. After seeing a man blind from death, Jesus is asked if the man's blindness is caused by his sin or the sins of his parents. Jesus answers, “Neither he nor his parents sinned;

it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him."

The apparent hardship and evil we encounter are not acceptable or right. However, they are opportunities for the grace and love of God to overpower that evil and illuminate and highlight the good of God and that Love that is everything.