I'm back...and talking about suffering...

I started this blog last year. Many of friends have blogs about the kids, things they have been though, etc....I love reading these blogs but I could not figure out what to write or find the time to write. However, I realized I do have a topic, or at least for today--my passions in life.

I am passionate about helping people. After a few years in advertising, I realized advertising was fine for a few years and enjoyable much of the time, but not my passion. I wanted to wake up in the morning and feel passionate about my work. I know I will have many rough days in my counseling career, but I'll feel like I am living out my calling. For those of you who are reading this and do not come from a religious viewpoint, you might wonder or roll your eyes at the term calling but here's a quote by Fredrick Buechner that sums up my views on calling. "The place God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” I think a secular calling is equal to that of a ministry calling (pastor, etc..).

I am going to Haiti for one week in December. This trip combines a few of my passions, counseling and helping the materially poor. When I am in Haiti, I am sure I will see lots of suffering. Many may blame God for the suffering, but I do not. For those that believe in the Christian God, we should realize that if we are okay saying that God is powerful enough to create the world then he does not owe us an answer. We may or may not see a purpose in suffering. As humans, we try to make sense of our suffering. God does not like to see people suffer, but we live in a fallen world which means suffering will happen.

Someday, there will be a time of no more suffering. Right now we live in an inbetween stage. We have seen that Jesus did come once and died for our sins, but are in the inbetween state as we wait for his return. We live in a fallen world, and must wait for him to return, but as we wait, we have the hope that Jesus will come back. Once Jesus returns the world will be restored and humans will not have to suffer. In the meantime we need to help those suffering in big ways and small ways. Helping may look different for everyone and God cares deeply for the suffering in every part of the world.

Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." I have seen evidence that the Bible is true and God has changed my heart to help me see that he is real and true. I trust God, and pray that he will send people to help the suffering in all parts of the world, including the area where I live.