God Can't by Thomas Jay Oord - Introduction, Chapters 1-4
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Pinga
Room for All
@DaisyJane - we are just reading a chapter at a time, so don't read too much! We're on chapter 1 this week.
Interesting: Thomas J. Oord will be at Vancouver School of Theology Summer School, July 8-12.
Interesting: Thomas J. Oord will be at Vancouver School of Theology Summer School, July 8-12.
PilgrimsProgress
Well-Known Member
As is my nature, I would prefer just to comment on my thoughts as I read along... (So far, introduction and Chapter one in depth - skimming the rest due to time pressures.)
Firstly, this book is long overdue.
For some time now I have used process theology as a framework for my faith - but the concepts of process theology are more likely to be discussed by various religious academics in theology colleges. "Intellectual" types seem to often favour long-winded, dry - often incomprehensible- explanations which we ordinary folk have difficulty in following and understanding.
At long last, we have a process theology explanation for dummies! Much kudos to the author!
That said, I wasn't sure exactly what the author's definition of evil was? (It's apparent from initial comments here that there are many different ideas on what constitutes evil.)
It doesn't seem to me to be a very loving thing to do to go looking for evil - so perhaps that's why I prefer the term "missing the mark" - it doesn't sound so judgemental.
I relaxed when the author said "They may not call what happened "evil", but they hurt."
Yep, that definition appeals to me..........
When my sister died of motor neurone disease at 37 - leaving four daughters under twelve years old - I stopped believing in an interventionist God. But, even if my sister had lived, what about all the little kids that lose their parents?
It seems to me that if you believe in an interventionist God who can control everything - and lets individual untimely deaths and genocides occur - the God you believe in is not a God of love. For me, end of story.....
If you wish to believe in a loving God - a God whose power resides in unconditional love, then process or relational theology fits the bill better than most. In practical terms, this theology fits with my own experiences of life. In times of suffering, God suffers with me, and gives me unlimited opportunities to go on living and allow the suffering to become a part of who I am.
God is not a human, with a human body - so it seems reasonable to me that God gives us opportunities through others to re-define our suffering. (eg. Whenever I think of my husband's death at a reasonably young age I now think how fortunate I was to meet and relate to him at all.)
Thus, this is a theology of relationship - God needs us as much as we need God to bring about His kingdom based on love.
We need God, none of us loves unconditionally all the time.
The Oklahoma City Bombing -
I accept that Michael Fortier had to be imprisoned for not speaking up, but would not a unconditionally loving God continue to love Fortier and send him opportunities through others to ultimately change his ways? Fortier may well ignore these opportunities, but, to me, a loving God would go on providing them.
Firstly, this book is long overdue.
For some time now I have used process theology as a framework for my faith - but the concepts of process theology are more likely to be discussed by various religious academics in theology colleges. "Intellectual" types seem to often favour long-winded, dry - often incomprehensible- explanations which we ordinary folk have difficulty in following and understanding.
At long last, we have a process theology explanation for dummies! Much kudos to the author!
That said, I wasn't sure exactly what the author's definition of evil was? (It's apparent from initial comments here that there are many different ideas on what constitutes evil.)
It doesn't seem to me to be a very loving thing to do to go looking for evil - so perhaps that's why I prefer the term "missing the mark" - it doesn't sound so judgemental.
I relaxed when the author said "They may not call what happened "evil", but they hurt."
Yep, that definition appeals to me..........
When my sister died of motor neurone disease at 37 - leaving four daughters under twelve years old - I stopped believing in an interventionist God. But, even if my sister had lived, what about all the little kids that lose their parents?
It seems to me that if you believe in an interventionist God who can control everything - and lets individual untimely deaths and genocides occur - the God you believe in is not a God of love. For me, end of story.....
If you wish to believe in a loving God - a God whose power resides in unconditional love, then process or relational theology fits the bill better than most. In practical terms, this theology fits with my own experiences of life. In times of suffering, God suffers with me, and gives me unlimited opportunities to go on living and allow the suffering to become a part of who I am.
God is not a human, with a human body - so it seems reasonable to me that God gives us opportunities through others to re-define our suffering. (eg. Whenever I think of my husband's death at a reasonably young age I now think how fortunate I was to meet and relate to him at all.)
Thus, this is a theology of relationship - God needs us as much as we need God to bring about His kingdom based on love.
We need God, none of us loves unconditionally all the time.
The Oklahoma City Bombing -
I accept that Michael Fortier had to be imprisoned for not speaking up, but would not a unconditionally loving God continue to love Fortier and send him opportunities through others to ultimately change his ways? Fortier may well ignore these opportunities, but, to me, a loving God would go on providing them.
Pinga
Room for All
Pilgrim's Progress, you made me laugh out loud at this line "At long last, we have a process theology explanation for dummies! Much kudos to the author!"
I find that the 2nd time that i read a chapter, i find another layer. I have a sense, that there are many layers in this book.
The language is simple. That takes skill.
I find that the 2nd time that i read a chapter, i find another layer. I have a sense, that there are many layers in this book.
The language is simple. That takes skill.
PilgrimsProgress
Well-Known Member
Um, it did sound a wee bit tactless when I mentioned Process Theology for dummies - but it's just that the basics of Process Theology are, like Goldilock's porridge, "just right" for those in this science and technology world to have a faith that's plausible..........
I kept thinking about the Oklahoma city bombing - and, with my understanding of Process Theology - thought that a God who loves us unconditionally would never give up on Michael Fortier -and give him many opportunities to change his thinking and actions in the future.
Sooo, I found the author on Facebook and messaged him, asking was my understanding the same as his? I got a prompt reply saying that that was his understanding too!
(I also thanked him for the book -saying how helpful it was to have such a clear explanation of the concepts of Process (or relational) theology. You'll no doubt be all relieved that I didn't say Process Theology for dummies!)
I kept thinking about the Oklahoma city bombing - and, with my understanding of Process Theology - thought that a God who loves us unconditionally would never give up on Michael Fortier -and give him many opportunities to change his thinking and actions in the future.
Sooo, I found the author on Facebook and messaged him, asking was my understanding the same as his? I got a prompt reply saying that that was his understanding too!
(I also thanked him for the book -saying how helpful it was to have such a clear explanation of the concepts of Process (or relational) theology. You'll no doubt be all relieved that I didn't say Process Theology for dummies!)
Seeler
Well-Known Member
I read the introduction and chapter 1 last week and just now finished a reread.
I must say that on the first time through I found the book quite simplistic and wondered if the writer would talk down to the reader. Page 3 I read that the answers in this book are different from those you have heard. This book’s ideas will change you. Actually, I didn’t find the ideas in this book radically different than those I have believed for the last decade or more after reading books and attending seminars with scholars and theologians such as Spong, Borg and Crossan and taking part in study and discussion groups. The strength and weakness of this book may lie in its simplicity in presenting ideas that even a layperson can understand.
The author refers to the popular book and movie called The Shack. The book was quite shocking and controversial to some people, but it was also simplistic, written I thought at a grade 7 level of reading and comprehension. Rather than shocking I found The Shack to be shallow.
I’m glad I went back for a second reading and discovered more depth to God Can’t.
The central idea of the book seems to be that there are some things that God can’t do because it would be against the very nature of God. God is love. God cannot be unloving. The second theme seems to be that evil is real. I have a harder time with this - I believe evil happens but I don’t believe in the devil or Satan or the personification of evil. I hope to organize my thoughts about evil and post them on the thread dedicated to evil.
The question is how can a loving God cause evil to happen or at least stand back and allow it to happen? Why did God allow this to happen to me? Why doesn’t God take the pain away? Why is God punishing me? What did I do to deserve this?
I like the idea of the cooperative God – that rather than controlling us and micromanaging God meets our cooperation in preventing evil to happen. God gives us the freedom to act or not act, to save someone from harm or evil or to let it happen. That puts a lot of responsibility on us, doesn't it? One person involved in the Oklahoma bombing was punished for not reporting his foreknowledge of his friends' intentions. By doing nothing after something did not cooperate with God in preventing evil and without him God couldn't.
I like the way the author brings in actual stories from the news as examples of evil and suffering such as the Oklahoma bombing. I am less impressed by the antidotes that seem a bit superficial.
I must say that on the first time through I found the book quite simplistic and wondered if the writer would talk down to the reader. Page 3 I read that the answers in this book are different from those you have heard. This book’s ideas will change you. Actually, I didn’t find the ideas in this book radically different than those I have believed for the last decade or more after reading books and attending seminars with scholars and theologians such as Spong, Borg and Crossan and taking part in study and discussion groups. The strength and weakness of this book may lie in its simplicity in presenting ideas that even a layperson can understand.
The author refers to the popular book and movie called The Shack. The book was quite shocking and controversial to some people, but it was also simplistic, written I thought at a grade 7 level of reading and comprehension. Rather than shocking I found The Shack to be shallow.
I’m glad I went back for a second reading and discovered more depth to God Can’t.
The central idea of the book seems to be that there are some things that God can’t do because it would be against the very nature of God. God is love. God cannot be unloving. The second theme seems to be that evil is real. I have a harder time with this - I believe evil happens but I don’t believe in the devil or Satan or the personification of evil. I hope to organize my thoughts about evil and post them on the thread dedicated to evil.
The question is how can a loving God cause evil to happen or at least stand back and allow it to happen? Why did God allow this to happen to me? Why doesn’t God take the pain away? Why is God punishing me? What did I do to deserve this?
I like the idea of the cooperative God – that rather than controlling us and micromanaging God meets our cooperation in preventing evil to happen. God gives us the freedom to act or not act, to save someone from harm or evil or to let it happen. That puts a lot of responsibility on us, doesn't it? One person involved in the Oklahoma bombing was punished for not reporting his foreknowledge of his friends' intentions. By doing nothing after something did not cooperate with God in preventing evil and without him God couldn't.
I like the way the author brings in actual stories from the news as examples of evil and suffering such as the Oklahoma bombing. I am less impressed by the antidotes that seem a bit superficial.
Pinga
Room for All
The questions for chapter 1 are as follows:
1. Why might some people be shocked to hear God can't prevent evil singlehandedly?
2. What problems arise when someone says God "allows" evil?
3. Why does it matter that we believe God's nature is uncontrolling love?
4. If you've read The Shack or watched the movie, what did you like or not like?
5. Why is it important to believe God doesn't create us as robots or temporarily roboticize us?
6. Why should we believe God is a bodiless spirit who can't prevent evil that creatures like us sometimes can?
7. What is helpful about the idea that God acts like a loving parent or suitor who needs cooperation? And how can this help us evaluate our family or romantic relationships?
** note 1 -- I may have mistyped. If anyone finds an error , please let me know.
** note 2: many words show up as spelling errors; however, I have done my best to type as they were typed in the book.
1. Why might some people be shocked to hear God can't prevent evil singlehandedly?
2. What problems arise when someone says God "allows" evil?
3. Why does it matter that we believe God's nature is uncontrolling love?
4. If you've read The Shack or watched the movie, what did you like or not like?
5. Why is it important to believe God doesn't create us as robots or temporarily roboticize us?
6. Why should we believe God is a bodiless spirit who can't prevent evil that creatures like us sometimes can?
7. What is helpful about the idea that God acts like a loving parent or suitor who needs cooperation? And how can this help us evaluate our family or romantic relationships?
** note 1 -- I may have mistyped. If anyone finds an error , please let me know.
** note 2: many words show up as spelling errors; however, I have done my best to type as they were typed in the book.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
1.
They might be shocked to hear that God can't protect that evil single-handedly because it is counter to their view of an all-powerful God, or
they find the idea that God requires their cooperation to be overwhelming or frightening. It takes them out of their comfort zone.
2. If God may allow evil then he cannot be all good and all loving.
3. If God's nature were controlling love we would not have free will. Free will means that we make up their own minds; God does not control us. If God controls us we are robots, not thinking human beings.
4. I both read The Shack and watched the movie. I found that simplistic and they did not really answer the question of why does God allow suffering of the innocents.
5. Same as number three.
6. The whole idea of God having a body seems to reflect back to the childish idea of God sitting up in the clouds surrounded by angels and occasionally reaching down to manipulate events on earth – usually is an answer to prayer, either direct prayer or intercession by Jesus or his mother Mary. I think I am through this 70 years ago.
It also is difficult to believe that the body that could somehow be everywhere at the same time to push us out of the way of a speeding car, Or pull us from a freezing lake or take a bullet for us, but we can't believe that a spiritual God could do the same with a puff of breath.
7. We seem to need to see God in relationship such as our relationship with one another, either as parent to child, or spouse to spouse. In doing so we personify God and give God human emotions. But I don't have the words to think of God is there any other way. Many people in the Old Testament as well as Jesus referred to God as a parent. And some referred to God as the spouse or partner. As such we worked the best in cooperation.
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Redbaron
Pirate fan since the dark ages
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Just a quick reminder of the purpose of this forum-- to facilitate the community's reading and conversation of the book under consideration. It has been made known that moderation in this forum would be a little different for threads in this forum; please address issues raised by the study leader, or arising from your actual reading of the book. Please and thank you.(This in response to a deleted post above; not to Seeler's more recent posts)
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Pinga
Room for All
The questions for chapter 1 are as follows:
1. Why might some people be shocked to hear God can't prevent evil singlehandedly?
I have a sense that people have been told "if you prayer hard enough", "if you live righteously enough" then, nothing bad will happen that isn't Gods will. It is far from my understanding of God.
2. What problems arise when someone says God "allows" evil?
The challenge with that belief is that God then decides when to allow it and when not. When is it right that that person was shot down, or that child murdered or that person walking by that terrorist attack. It also means that if I am evil, well, God could choose to stop me, but doesn't, so therefore, I should do that evil thing.
3. Why does it matter that we believe God's nature is uncontrolling love?
It ensures that the aspect of human choice is recognized. It also says that humans must intervene, and not leave things to God to manage/control.
4. If you've read The Shack or watched the movie, what did you like or not like?
Didn't do either. I found the hype problematic.
5. Why is it important to believe God doesn't create us as robots or temporarily roboticize us?
The line "God made me do it" is not a legitimate excuse in a trial. When we use someone else as the blame, we are victims. Could/would someone be a victim of God?
6. Why should we believe God is a bodiless spirit who can't prevent evil that creatures like us sometimes can?
hmm, see #3.
7. What is helpful about the idea that God acts like a loving parent or suitor who needs cooperation? And how can this help us evaluate our family or romantic relationships?
Part 1 of this question is easy. We have some common language around what a loving parent looks like. Even if our parent wasn't loving, there are images, story , example of how to be a loving parent. The concept of God Can't, translated to our parent or spouse can't, helps us not be victims. We see that we each have choices in how we live in this world, and how we live out love in our midst.
1. Why might some people be shocked to hear God can't prevent evil singlehandedly?
I have a sense that people have been told "if you prayer hard enough", "if you live righteously enough" then, nothing bad will happen that isn't Gods will. It is far from my understanding of God.
2. What problems arise when someone says God "allows" evil?
The challenge with that belief is that God then decides when to allow it and when not. When is it right that that person was shot down, or that child murdered or that person walking by that terrorist attack. It also means that if I am evil, well, God could choose to stop me, but doesn't, so therefore, I should do that evil thing.
3. Why does it matter that we believe God's nature is uncontrolling love?
It ensures that the aspect of human choice is recognized. It also says that humans must intervene, and not leave things to God to manage/control.
4. If you've read The Shack or watched the movie, what did you like or not like?
Didn't do either. I found the hype problematic.
5. Why is it important to believe God doesn't create us as robots or temporarily roboticize us?
The line "God made me do it" is not a legitimate excuse in a trial. When we use someone else as the blame, we are victims. Could/would someone be a victim of God?
6. Why should we believe God is a bodiless spirit who can't prevent evil that creatures like us sometimes can?
hmm, see #3.
7. What is helpful about the idea that God acts like a loving parent or suitor who needs cooperation? And how can this help us evaluate our family or romantic relationships?
Part 1 of this question is easy. We have some common language around what a loving parent looks like. Even if our parent wasn't loving, there are images, story , example of how to be a loving parent. The concept of God Can't, translated to our parent or spouse can't, helps us not be victims. We see that we each have choices in how we live in this world, and how we live out love in our midst.
Pinga
Room for All
BetteTheRed
Resident Heretic
- Pronouns
- She/Her/Her
I don't understand that position. Humans have free will. How can "God" both give and take away?
"Allows" is different than "is". I have a very hard time with hard duality. If one has a pantheist/ic view of Deity, where is "God" not?
Definitions, I think. Love does not control.
Didn't watch the movie. Read the book a couple of times. It has some simplistic moments, but I really liked Creator as elder black woman.
Because it's foreign to my own experience. I believe I have and make choices.
Hmmm...wyrdly loaded question. "Bodiless"? "Spirit"? Let's work on some definitions here.
I find human relationships often problematic. My relationships with my parents were quite practical and understood; my relationship with my sisters a lot more loaded by imposed roles. And baby and I are mainly good; middle is usually left out. I didn't do marriage successfully; I have low tolerance for "not keeping your s**t together when you have responsibilities". So I've dated the same guy, a decade older, for 23 years now. Cooperate, not really? Coexist, a booty call once a week (twice in prior years)? Sure. So how this relates to God is questionable, except to note that I cannot be forced into love, but only drawn into it.
Pinga
Room for All
Let's move on to Chapter 2: God Feels Our Pain.
Let us know what you think of this chapter? Any thoughts as you read?
I must admit that I connected with Facebook pity posts.
*********
I am reminded of a friend many years ago, before Facebook, before internet or cell phones.
The time was about 1978.
She shared a home with another woman. They both had sons. They had little money but pooled together, and had a two story home. Laundry room in basement. Stress was often high. Money was tight.
This particular day, her friend, and both boys had the flu. The kind where sheets are soiled frequently, and people need help with water, buckets, anything to make them feel better.
My friend was downstairs doing laundry, with bedding and clothes piled up, when the hose broke on the washing machine. What a mess. She was working on fixing and cleaning up when the phone rang.
She ran upstairs to get it. It was a man who was making an obscene phone call (remember those?).
Well, she listened for a minute, a bit in shock and frustration, then lit into him.
Told him if he had enough time to make an obscene phone call, he could get over there, and help with the laundry.
I guess the guy didn't know what hit him...blubbered a bit, and got off.
I think of my friend when I read posts offering prayers or platitudes. I am reminded of a friend who said I don't need your sympathy, or empathy...i need a coffee.
***
What does it mean for God to "feel my pain" or "our pains"
Let us know what you think of this chapter? Any thoughts as you read?
I must admit that I connected with Facebook pity posts.
*********
I am reminded of a friend many years ago, before Facebook, before internet or cell phones.
The time was about 1978.
She shared a home with another woman. They both had sons. They had little money but pooled together, and had a two story home. Laundry room in basement. Stress was often high. Money was tight.
This particular day, her friend, and both boys had the flu. The kind where sheets are soiled frequently, and people need help with water, buckets, anything to make them feel better.
My friend was downstairs doing laundry, with bedding and clothes piled up, when the hose broke on the washing machine. What a mess. She was working on fixing and cleaning up when the phone rang.
She ran upstairs to get it. It was a man who was making an obscene phone call (remember those?).
Well, she listened for a minute, a bit in shock and frustration, then lit into him.
Told him if he had enough time to make an obscene phone call, he could get over there, and help with the laundry.
I guess the guy didn't know what hit him...blubbered a bit, and got off.
I think of my friend when I read posts offering prayers or platitudes. I am reminded of a friend who said I don't need your sympathy, or empathy...i need a coffee.
***
What does it mean for God to "feel my pain" or "our pains"
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Most of the books that we read and discuss in the real-life book club I belong to I really enjoy. Occasionally there will be a book that I don't like. I usually continue reading it anyway and attend the discussion. Often I find that at least some of the other people there agree with me; but just as often I find myself agreeing with the points that other people make in the book's favour and occasionally rereading it and finding things that I had skipped over or didn't consider significant in the first reading.
I think I said about the introduction and first chapter that I hoped that I wouldn't find this book too simplistic – as I did 'The Shack ' which Oord seems to consider a sightful book. Quick read of chapter 2 of God Can't has not changed my mind.
It has been said that we tend to like what we agree with, and dislike ideas that we don't agree with. I'm finding that be true with this book.
Nevertheless, I am committed to follow through with this book study as I do with books that my book club chooses. I'm sure I have much to learn. So back to a second reading chapter 2.
I think I said about the introduction and first chapter that I hoped that I wouldn't find this book too simplistic – as I did 'The Shack ' which Oord seems to consider a sightful book. Quick read of chapter 2 of God Can't has not changed my mind.
It has been said that we tend to like what we agree with, and dislike ideas that we don't agree with. I'm finding that be true with this book.
Nevertheless, I am committed to follow through with this book study as I do with books that my book club chooses. I'm sure I have much to learn. So back to a second reading chapter 2.
Redbaron
Pirate fan since the dark ages
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
I can appreciate the student who thought God wanted to kick his backside, but that Jesus was someone he felt he could hang with. There is a big difference between 'Why did God let this happen?' and "Where do we go from here?' And somehow when you shift to that question, you may in fact find you aren't alone.
About 30 years ago I went through a divorce. For a while during that process I was miserable; I was a failure, etc etc etc. Somehow one day I was able to shove off some of the negativity, and start to think about what was NOW and what was AHEAD, rather than what had happened. Once that happened (and I do believe that somehow God had something to do with the shift) things began to get better. I felt that I wasn't abandoned, wasn't alone, that someone did actually care.
About 30 years ago I went through a divorce. For a while during that process I was miserable; I was a failure, etc etc etc. Somehow one day I was able to shove off some of the negativity, and start to think about what was NOW and what was AHEAD, rather than what had happened. Once that happened (and I do believe that somehow God had something to do with the shift) things began to get better. I felt that I wasn't abandoned, wasn't alone, that someone did actually care.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Pinga.
I think it is more his writing style than his theology that I find troubling. He seems to have a folksy way of telling the stories as interesting illustrations of his points that reminded me of some of the ancidotes and testimonials that I've heard from some religious people. I sometimes think that they detract rather than enhance the point that he is trying to make. Actually I agree with most of his theology.
You may remember that at the time we first met, I was preparing for a funeral for a young man who had drowned. Although I am not ordained I had taught this boy in Sunday school and his parents requested me to help them through. The main theme of my message to them was that their son did not die alone – God was with him.
I think it is more his writing style than his theology that I find troubling. He seems to have a folksy way of telling the stories as interesting illustrations of his points that reminded me of some of the ancidotes and testimonials that I've heard from some religious people. I sometimes think that they detract rather than enhance the point that he is trying to make. Actually I agree with most of his theology.
You may remember that at the time we first met, I was preparing for a funeral for a young man who had drowned. Although I am not ordained I had taught this boy in Sunday school and his parents requested me to help them through. The main theme of my message to them was that their son did not die alone – God was with him.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
I am halfway through a second read of chapter 2. As I had hoped, I am finding a lot more of value in the second read.
Some quotes or paraphrases that spoke to me are:
‘God really cares.’ 'We are not alone.'
God emphasizes with those suffering agony, loneliness, violence.
God is always present, always affected, and always loving.
God responses to all that its negative frustrating and painful with resilient hope
An empathetic God not only feels our suffering but also prompts others to love in specific ways.
Oord explains that empathy does not mean pity. Empathy means suffering with, feeling your pain, sharing your experience.
We are not alone. We live in God's world.
As of the first two sentences of the United Church Creed, known as a new creed when it was first introduced.
I thought of those statements in reference to the funeral of my young friend. I am convinced that he did not die alone. God was with him. God was with him when he and his friend made the careless decision to have all of canoeing after dark on an unpredictable lake. God was with him as a squall blew up as they struggled to paddle a canoe as it took on water. God was with him as he clung to the side of the canoe and his friend swam for help. God was with him as he lost his grip on the canoe. I encouraged him as he struggled against the waves. God comforted him as a strength ebbed, and God was there in the end. I thought of the hymn 'I was There to hear You're Borning Cry'. God is always with us.
God really cares.
Thought of the funeral, of the crowds that showed up - friends of the boy from school and university, from sports teams and Boy Scouts, friends of his older brother and sister, coaches and teachers, friends of his father deeply involved in youth sports friends and his mother head of a faculty at the University, people from the church, neighbours. People who cared and came to offer comfort and compassion, people who felt empathy as God feels empathy. In More Voices we have a hymn 'God Weeps'.
Some quotes or paraphrases that spoke to me are:
‘God really cares.’ 'We are not alone.'
God emphasizes with those suffering agony, loneliness, violence.
God is always present, always affected, and always loving.
God responses to all that its negative frustrating and painful with resilient hope
An empathetic God not only feels our suffering but also prompts others to love in specific ways.
Oord explains that empathy does not mean pity. Empathy means suffering with, feeling your pain, sharing your experience.
We are not alone. We live in God's world.
As of the first two sentences of the United Church Creed, known as a new creed when it was first introduced.
I thought of those statements in reference to the funeral of my young friend. I am convinced that he did not die alone. God was with him. God was with him when he and his friend made the careless decision to have all of canoeing after dark on an unpredictable lake. God was with him as a squall blew up as they struggled to paddle a canoe as it took on water. God was with him as he clung to the side of the canoe and his friend swam for help. God was with him as he lost his grip on the canoe. I encouraged him as he struggled against the waves. God comforted him as a strength ebbed, and God was there in the end. I thought of the hymn 'I was There to hear You're Borning Cry'. God is always with us.
God really cares.
Thought of the funeral, of the crowds that showed up - friends of the boy from school and university, from sports teams and Boy Scouts, friends of his older brother and sister, coaches and teachers, friends of his father deeply involved in youth sports friends and his mother head of a faculty at the University, people from the church, neighbours. People who cared and came to offer comfort and compassion, people who felt empathy as God feels empathy. In More Voices we have a hymn 'God Weeps'.
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