This is not the way I had planned to start a blog. I agree with the statement from Dune, "Beginnings are delicate times..." I wanted to start blogging about evolution vs. creation, or maybe just an an introduction first, but national headlines intervened. Yes, I wish to write about the tragedy in Aurora.
A little introduction is in order, however. I'm over 50 years old, a male, and rather grumpy when I get out of bed in the morning. Rather than thinking of me as old, I would prefer you think that my ideas have had some time to percolate. Most importantly, I am a Christian. Now don't be put off! If you really listen, Christ may be a different person than you think.
I was shocked to hear last Friday about the shootings, just like everyone else. Several years ago I took two of my kids (and their friends) to the midnight opening of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. A few people dressed up, and much silliness was had by all. I think I fell asleep. I can't imagine going from that atmosphere to, "Our lives are in Danger!", in a moment. I particularly feel sorry for the families, as most of the movie-goers were probably kids. We don't relate Movies or Movie Theaters with danger, or at least I don't. This definitely shook everyone's sense of security. How can you live if you don't feel reasonably safe?
Secular Humanism doesn't offer any comfort! No comfort for the victims or their families, as there is no life after death. We just cease to exist. Whatever made us unique, treasured, special in this life can be snuffed out just like that. Young Johnny grew up, made friends, had potential, and then, 15 years into his life, it's over.
Secular Humanism offers no comfort for the rest of us either. "How does any of this make sense?"
"Sorry, it doesn't. You are just a fluke of the Universe, and nothing means anything."
Even without factual evidence to the contrary, my mind rebels against this idea. Humans are the only animals that concern themselves with a Supreme Being, the Meaning of Our Lives, and What Comes after Death. Are you going to tell me that we evolved faculties to consider questions that don't exist? What is the Selective Advantage in that?
Let me tell you what I think. This world we live in is dangerous, frightening, and seemingly capricious. The Bible warns me not to be sure of any of my plans, or even to expect to be alive at the end of the day. It amazes me when people expect Someone to be responsible to them when something goes wrong in their lives. Our children get sick, our loved ones get in accidents, and our friends go to a particular midnight showing of Batman in a particular town. Looking from the outside, one could say that the world makes no sense.
Well, join the club. The world makes no sense to me either. But I know Someone for whom it does. That doesn't mean that I know the reasons. That is like five-year-old children expecting their parents to justify their actions and reasons. (Parents, can I get a witness?) God knows the reasons, and He is in charge. Is this a crutch, or a cop-out? If your leg is broken, you need a crutch. If you don't know the end from the beginning, it makes sense to seek out One who does.
God offers comfort for the people hurting from this tragedy. He offers the solace of knowing there is meaning, even if we don't know what it is. God has a larger Calculus, for which our material world is just a special case.
And God offers the inestimable gift of letting us know the end of the story. We know the Good Guy wins.
