In Sympathy for the People of Haiti

My brethren in Haiti,


             My heart goes out to you in your pain and grief.  I have heard stories of almost unimaginable death and destruction in your country.  Haiti is a very poor country, and  battled four severe hurricanes in 2008, and has now been hit by this major quake so close to the capital.  Those dead are in God’s hands, and I believe that He is more understanding, merciful and loving than any of us can even imagine.  Those of you living have to live with the pain, the grief and the rebuilding.  I am sorry for your pain, and I pray for you with a broken heart.




It is very difficult for us to understand how such a thing can happen on such a large scale.  If it is only chance and happenstance, then ultimately there is no real meaning to life.  If there is a God, how can He let such an event happen?  They say He is a God of love, but what kind of love is that?


It is certainly hard for us to understand from our earthly perspective.  But by the same token, from our perspective we are in no position to judge.  If we think about it, either there is a creator God, or there is not.  If there is not, then we are left with no direction, no moral compass, no life after death, no reason for life at all.  If there is a creator God, then we can see from His handiwork that He is beautiful, loving, and life-giving.  He is creative and delights in life and in love.  But we as created creatures cannot hope to understand all of His mind, His purposes, or His way of doing things.  Also, if there is life after death, then death is not the worst thing that can happen to us.  If God is loving, then it should be a pleasure to be in His hands, and to be face to face with Him.  There are many accounts of such from non-religious people who have been through near death experiences.


As for pain and suffering, we certainly don’t like going through it, but it seems to be an inescapable part of living on Earth.  From accounts of Heaven, it seems to be a place where all tears are wiped away, but here on Earth, we are suffering through a vale of tears.  Again, it is very difficult for us to understand why, but it seems to be an integral part of the overall plan of life on Earth.  We have to trust our creator to care for us and lead us, even through our tears, and in the midst of horrendous harships.  


My brothers and sisters, if I could, I would be with you there now to hold your hands, and to help to bury your dead, perhaps to share a smile with your children.  I live on the other side of the world, and I can’t come in person, but I do send my prayers.  Please accept them as a gift of love.




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Dr. Handley Moule, Bishop of Durham, visited West Stanley immediately after a terrible colliery explosion. He addressed the crowd at the pit's mouth, among whom were relatives of the entombed miners. "It is very difficult," he said, "for us to understand why God should let such an awful disaster happen, but we know Him and trust Him, and all will be right. I have at home an old bookmarker given me by my mother. It is worked in silk, and when I examine the wrong side of it, I see nothing but a tangle of threads. It looks like a big mistake. One would think that someone had done it who did not know what she was doing. But when I turn it over and look at the right side, I see there, beautifully embroidered, the letters, 'God is love!' We are looking at all this today," he continued "from the wrong side. Some day we shall see it from another standpoint and we shall understand."