The Hallmark Hall of Fame and Spit Happens

Last night, my wife and I watched `That Russell Girl' on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Well-acted, tender, teary,strong story line.

The story centers on a young woman who returns home, while trying to get into medical school. Her parents welcome her warmly, but the family across the street is hostile. We eventually learn that she was the babysitter six years before when a tragic accident led to a child's death. That Russell girl keeps asking whether people believe in karma. She seems to be convinced that she has contracted a life threatening disease, because of her actions.

So we circle around to several of the age old, but ever new and challenging questions. Does God or some life force control all that happens? If that is the case and bad things happen to me, then am I being punished for something I did in this life(or a previous life)? But if God punishes bad people and rewards good people, how come God does such an atrocious job of figuring out who is who and what is what? (Blessedly, the Bible addresses this issue straight on, especially in the Book of Job and in the life of Jesus).

It seems that the Russell girl likely believes that her disease is somehow a result of her actions that led to a child's tragic death. But some bad things, some horrible things, just happen. We must reaffirm our faith in accidents. I saw a child's bib once--remember how little kids drool, especially when they are teething. On the bib, in bright red lettering, it said `Spit Happens". Some of the bad things, even like death, that come upon us and upon those we love and upon strangers and enemies come for no reason at all. Spit happens. It is not that God is punishing you or me or us for our actions or the actions of our ancestors.(Now I think that sometimes God does discipline us--like a loving parent disciplines kids, but that is different. Yes, trying to figure out that difference is a major challenge to our soul's.)

In some part of the Scriptures, the idea that God rewards the good and punishes the wicked is affirmed and promoted. But in the book of Job and in the life of Jesus we find a thundering rebuke to that theology. If we think with compassion about our world, we clearly see the absurdity, even evil of that worldview.

No way can the death of children, innocent children, ever, ever be justified. If you sing and believe that revolutionary song about Jesus loving the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are all precious in his sights, then you know that God wills life and love and happiness for them. So the pain and suffering that children endure, is against the will of God. Why is there such evil in the world, you ask? Great question? We will think about that again.

We have some pieces of the answer. God does not control everything. In Creation, chaos is not destroyed, it is just contained according to Genesis. Spit happens. Some evil things just happen.

And while god may sometimes discipline us, all pain is not a sign of God's punishment. There is far, far too much inequity and injustice in the distribution of pain for that to be any consistent sign of God's will or way or love or justice.