A Meaning in the Tragedy

I am not happy for what happened in China and Burma. In fact, I say prayers for the victims and their families. Yet, did it happen for no reason? Do the human rights of monks matter more than those governments claim- can whole countries sin, if the innocent prophets (people with conscience), in their midst are persecuted? Maybe laws in the universe exist to curb tyranny and encourage compassion, laws maybe made by 'God', that it is up to us to learn about and respect.

If God is reality, it is what is. God is worth learning about, as God is, not as we would like God to be- for God's job is the difficult balancer of hope and justice, mercy and limitation. Only God knows what is best, to bring about the best possible future. It is up to us to choose the righteous and peaceful way to it. I don't like it more than anyone else, but my understanding is that the hope of a just eternity requires many tragedies, in order to limit human sinfulness- but these tragedies are not at all chosen by God- they are the risks and unwelcome side-effects of selfish action.

What do they achieve? They slow down despotic governments who might otherwise stoop to genocide or full-scale persecution of minorities. They enhance human compassion and the urge to co-operate and care for one another. If humanity was fully-evolved, they wouldn't need such experiences, or indeed any such tragedy. Our hunger for them, as a race, even in the arts, indicates a need to feel the value of life afresh.

In fact here is the secret- if they are experienced vicariously in the arts, they may no longer be called into our lives any longer- as experience is everything for evolving creatures, such as ourselves. Humanity needs to love one another, as all men are ultimately related. If there is any meaning in such things. I believe it is something like this.

But I repeat, this is all not God's will, but the result of our erring. God wants us all to attain Paradise and Eternal Life- it is just for us to have the faith to accept this ultimate gift awaiting us, lying like the wild flower in the field, waiting to be sniffed.