ON DARK DAYS

ON DARK DAYS - I was surprised when I read an article recently in Christian Century magazine about the number of Americans surveyed who believe that there is a divine message from God in the COVID-19 pandemic.  The majority of the 1,002 adults surveyed said they either strongly or somewhat believe God is telling humanity to change how we are living through the coronavirus outbreak.  Had I been one of the respondents, I would have been in the minority who answered “No” to the question.  I believe that the God revealed by Jesus does not send any form of sickness, suffering, or tragedy upon the world.  Rather, God is present in those who work to bring healing and hope to those who suffer.  Just as the Dalai Lama says he doesn’t judge the universe during the dark days of life but focuses on the brightest, I choose not to judge God for the wrongs of the world or things that come to us through natural causes.  And may we also have the grace to focus on the brightest of days as the gifts that they are.