Lee Wei Ling's Thoughts About Her Mama, And My Thoughts...

It is interesting to read Lee Wei Ling's article in the Sunday Times, 29 Aug 10, page 31. She lamented that she found it difficult to accept that her mother is bedbound, suffering from a massive stroke since 12 May 2008.

I share her sentiments. My mother used to be a strong woman. But over the last 10 years, she is now reduced to a totally helpless woman by Alzheimer's Disease.

Wei Ling wrote "...I accept these facts(growing old, falling sick and eventually dying) with no resentment that life is unkind. I have had more than my fair share of bad luck, but I never resented it, for I think suffering built up my resilience."

Ah yes! Suffering! When you are 55 years old, you would have gone through or seen a fair amount of suffering. Life offers both joy as well as suffering. But there is a difference - joy and suffering do not always cancel or square-off one another.

Sometimes an experience made us very pleased and joyful - like a visit to the majestic fjords at the coast of Norway. We are at cloud nine, exhilarated for a moment, perhaps for 3 months. Sometimes another experience traumatised us in suffering - like knowing a close relative gave birth to a still-born. We are in pain for 9 months.

You see, when comparing experiences of joy and suffering, suffering lasts 3 times longer than joy of the same intensity.

So why must one be born, journey on Earth for a couple of decades, experience more sufferings than joy, and then go to Heaven?

Can one by-pass Earth's journey and go straight to Heaven? That would be a simply way!

So, go, read the Book 'Wisdom of Solomon' in the Bible (deutero-canonicals). All these thoughts and sentiments had been mulled over and over in ages past. And the wisest of man had explained the meaning and purpose of life. You read and you will understand.

The Most Difficult Religious Question

HOW CAN THERE BE AN ALL-LOVING AND ALL-POWERFUL GOD IF THERE IS SO MUCH SUFFERING IN THE WORLD?

There is a article on this in the Catholic News, 12 October 2008.

Since the day I believe in the existence of God, I have been asking this question. I have not found a satisfactory answer. But after several years, I have stopped asking this question.

During the Old Testament times, God responded to the pleas of His people to deliver them from disasters. For example, God, through Esther, delivered the Jews from Haman's plot to exterminate them (Esther 3). Another example, God answered the prayers of Moses when Joshua was fighting the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-13).

With the birth and then the resurrection of Christ, the 'Age/Dispensation of Grace" had commenced. Before this new era, I noticed that God would deliver his chosen people (Jews) from disasters when they prayed for help. Now, in the Dispensation of Grace, God does not seem to respond to prayers to avert natural disasters and suffering anymore. Not that I know of. After the Auschwitz Holocaust during the second World War, someone asked how is it still possible for Jews to believe in God! But they do.

When Hurricane was expected to devastate the land in 2 days time, and Christians knelt down to pray, the hurricane still came and caused loss of lives and properties. When earthquake victims prayed for no more aftershocks, the aftershocks still continued to cause casualties and damages.

Many writers had given their views on God's seeming inaction in the face of suffering and evil. A few perspectives were also given in the Catholic News article.

But for sure, there is an All-loving and All-powerful God. He was here among His people. He even sent His Son to died on the cross for our sins. It was a mystery to my finite human mind why He allowed sufferings to persist. You can pray to Him for help, but He will not always help you the way you would expect. However, if you pray to Him for comfort and inner peace - these, the Holy Spirit will always grant you.

Praise the Lord. He is real.