What a messed up world we live in. A friend recently wrote to me of his sadness on learning of the loss of a friend. Here is the story that he related.
On July 31, Ruediger Noeh died with two other women in a car crash in Chad. He leaves his wife Barbara and 4 and 1 year old daughters. A bus crashed into their jeep in the early morning after the driver lost control of the bus speeding in a curve. Ruediger was a translation expert for Arabic dialects. His vision was to translate the new testament for a huge tribe in Southeast of Chad, close to Darfur. Another who died in the crash was a young lady who was serving as an agriculture expert. She left her University career to serve farmers in Chad and tell them about Jesus. The third one was a young girl - an intern for a year -who just arrived in Chad to serve the team. The last great job Ruediger did was conducting negotiations in Arabic to free a US hostage in Chad on July 24. All were there to serve others - to do good. Our hearts go out to their loved ones.
So much tragedy is caused by the decisions of others - like a bus driver speeding around a curve. When I hear of such a tragedy, my first impulse is to wonder why God would let such a thing happen to such good people. Then I realize that the real responsibility is on us.
We are each one capable of causing so much pain. The wonder is that God can and does cause all things to work for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. As I look through a glass darkly, I confess that most of the time I don't see that good or understand how good can come of it. But we are told that one day we will see Jesus face to face and then we will see more clearly. That hope is one of the things that keeps me going, particularly in times like these.
In the meantime, I choose to join the ranks of those who are working to build a more caring society. I recognize that we will never be able to create a utopia in which all of us are fully conscious of the potential effects of our decisions on others. At the same time, we must try.
We must work towards a time when a critical mass of individuals seek the good of others and not just our own. If the driver of the bus had chosen to do unto others as he would have them do to him, he would have eased up on the gas pedal and the lives of many in both vehicles would be better today.
I continue to be perplexed a majority of the time but I choose to stand firm on the little of goodness that I know. Will you join me there?
On July 31, Ruediger Noeh died with two other women in a car crash in Chad. He leaves his wife Barbara and 4 and 1 year old daughters. A bus crashed into their jeep in the early morning after the driver lost control of the bus speeding in a curve. Ruediger was a translation expert for Arabic dialects. His vision was to translate the new testament for a huge tribe in Southeast of Chad, close to Darfur. Another who died in the crash was a young lady who was serving as an agriculture expert. She left her University career to serve farmers in Chad and tell them about Jesus. The third one was a young girl - an intern for a year -who just arrived in Chad to serve the team. The last great job Ruediger did was conducting negotiations in Arabic to free a US hostage in Chad on July 24. All were there to serve others - to do good. Our hearts go out to their loved ones.
So much tragedy is caused by the decisions of others - like a bus driver speeding around a curve. When I hear of such a tragedy, my first impulse is to wonder why God would let such a thing happen to such good people. Then I realize that the real responsibility is on us.
We are each one capable of causing so much pain. The wonder is that God can and does cause all things to work for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. As I look through a glass darkly, I confess that most of the time I don't see that good or understand how good can come of it. But we are told that one day we will see Jesus face to face and then we will see more clearly. That hope is one of the things that keeps me going, particularly in times like these.
In the meantime, I choose to join the ranks of those who are working to build a more caring society. I recognize that we will never be able to create a utopia in which all of us are fully conscious of the potential effects of our decisions on others. At the same time, we must try.
We must work towards a time when a critical mass of individuals seek the good of others and not just our own. If the driver of the bus had chosen to do unto others as he would have them do to him, he would have eased up on the gas pedal and the lives of many in both vehicles would be better today.
I continue to be perplexed a majority of the time but I choose to stand firm on the little of goodness that I know. Will you join me there?
posted by Randall E. Butler at 8:06 AM
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