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[scionofgrace]

A friend of mine is going through a really tough time now.  (Long story, let's just say two broken hearts are involved.)  I happen to be the nearest and most convenient of those she trusts, and am therefore the one who was on the spot to help her these past few days: regular calls and texts, encouragement, listening, strategic distraction, going

Comments

[izhilzha]

Prayers are with you and your friend. I know what it is like to be the caregiver in that situation--as you say, a privilege, but also very difficult

[scionofgrace]

Thanks.

I'm considering asking the one other person I know in RL who has the gift of prophecy if she could mentor me. (Which would be funny because she and I couldn't be more different: she's athletic, outgoing, mother of three boys... not that we don't get along!)

Prophecy is more of a warning sign than anything, waving at me saying "Trouble ahead", and then the other part of the gift comes into play in figuring out what the trouble is. That's where I still have difficulties. But God is patient, and a good teacher.

[el_staplador]

(I know your post isn't about the earthquake, but it does seem like a comparable example and I don't want to hijack your friend's situation

[scionofgrace]

Re: fault lines: I didn't know about the water thing. That's... kinda fascinating, actually. (Still doesn't explain Los Angeles *g*)

The part about feeling that God is a bully wasn't me, it was someone else I was talking to who's dealing with a child's illness. I don't believe or even feel that God bullies, and I really don't believe that God causes evil. He allows it to happen, but I believe that evil and tragedy are the result of our world being broken, right down to its base code.

Also that death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person.

But we, being human, are really good at confusing cause and purpose and effects, and putting it all out of perspective. As you said, earthquakes are how geology works. If anything, the good things that come out of tragedy are evidence of God's skill (and our skill) to rewrite the story.

[author_by_night]

Sometimes you can't say something. I had a friend who was in a verbally abusive relationship, and when I did say something, I think it shocked her more than anything else. She did finally leave him, but it was a decision she had to make by herself. And it's hard because of course we love our friends deeply and we want them to be healthy and happy inside, but people will do what they want or feel they must do. We just have to be there when push comes to shove and they need our arms to fall back in. Other times we can say something, but it still wouldn't do any good deep down we know it.

I know how much it sucks - I really do.

God isn't a bully. I think mankind has a bullying complex, absolutely, one that only begins in the playground and can manifest into horrible things. Human beings always want to hurt the other person because frankly, we're kind of pathetic. But I don't blame God for the sins of mankind, even when the sins happen in His name.

ETA: Linking to two youtube videos of a song I adore that I think fits this post. I'm

[scionofgrace]

it's hard because of course we love our friends deeply and we want them to be healthy and happy inside, but people will do what they want or feel they must do.

Actually, that's something I've been telling her. (The heartbreak stems from someone else's addictions and unaddressed issues, and it kills her that she can't change that.) I know I can't change people, but I feel that if I get a red flag about something, that I should do them the courtesy of letting them know.

I don't believe God is a bully. I don't even feel that way - the person who said it to me knows it isn't true, but is struggling. I mentioned it because I now know where that comes from. Our world's broken, and we are broken, so bad things happen. If anything, it's a testament to God's artistry that he (and we) can create beautiful things from tragedy anyway.