The deafening silence of God

Nothing speaks more of the impassability of God then the deafening silence of unanswered prayer. The decline of Christianity in the West is sometimes attributed to the years after World War One where many millions of young Christian men died in the horrible hellish nighthmare of trench warfare. Yes, it could be argued that in those millions were thousands of potential missionaries, pastors and workers for Christ. We will never know. But I have another theory

For virtually every christian family that sent a christian son off to war and saw him come back in a coffin; there lay the seed of a growing bitterness towards God. A cold rage towards him for not answering those prayers of protection and safety from danger and death. A body was buried, but that was not all. The faith of a family and subsequent generations got buried as well on that cold day - where God failed to answer their prayers

Of course, God answers prayers, people say. Just not always in the way you want it to be.

As 2009 begins, already the tsunamis of life (note the plural) have already hit and devasted the beaches of my life. Before I can even get one prayer of help out, another hits; and another. Before long, you even wonder whether you should just forget saving the boat (what boats are left to save?) and just run to higher ground until the waves subside - or will they?

Oddly, I have no platitudes for you today. I can't say whether you will keep your faith or lose it. I know many good people who have. What do you say to a father who has lost a child? What do you say to the mother? I have no idea

I guess if I was to answer honestly, I would grab a handful of earth, and throw it into the grave. Where a body lies. And maybe a faith and the faith of fathers