It is almost impossible to turn on the TV or read the local newspaper without watching or reading about some terrible tragedy. While I don't keep records about such awful happenings, I do not believe we are more inclined to have these more often than ever before. My guess is that we simply have more accessible coverage ... and I want to know what's going on in my city and in my world.

While I like to believe that I am a mostly realistic individual, I am rather primitive in my thinking that I am exempt from many accidents and God watches out just for me, my loved ones, my friends and my close associates. This way — and I don't mean that I believe I am so very special — when I hear or read about wars, accidents, explosions, violence or fighting, well, it's over there, it's someone else, and there's nothing I can do. At least, at first, I can.

Then, as the news unfolds, I find myself thinking about their loss, how much they may suffer and I cannot help but hurt for them and wish I could be there and in some way give them hope and help them deal with their sufferings.

Then, I get angry. I become angry with the cause. Isn't there anyone who checks on the safety of the bridges, buildings, airplanes? Aren't there appropriate background investigations for those who just might be dangerous? These wars or killings weren't predictable? There's not enough space to include changing weather, crazy politicians, road rage, stock markets, plague and ... you name it!

As I am prone to ask probably too many questions, I am almost afraid to ask the very obvious. Why does God allow this to happen? I excuse God because I am not supposed to blame God and so that leaves evil, which hints that bad things are more powerful than good things. If that is so, then does God just turn His back on the world at times and allow evil to have reign? I guess I am not supposed to think this way either, but I just can't let my questions go unanswered. So, what can I do?

What can we do? We could conclude that God doesn't care, is too far away or is just testing us and our faith. As one who attempts theology cautiously, I cannot accept those preconceived notions. I will accept the Bible's approach, which is not overly preoccupied with avoiding accidents, catastrophic problems or suffering, but is more concerned with our love of God and our avoiding sins that separate us from His protection.

Having written that, if anyone has the right to look at life as a flip of a coin, coincidence or heavenly humor, it would have to be the Jew. Watch the movie "Fiddler on the Roof," or take a long read of Job and one can find a good example of a Greek comedy. Job was not much more than a pawn between God and the adversary (which is a good translation of the Hebrew word Satan). Maybe Job got back twice what he lost, but does this replace his grief and suffering? I don't think so!

Before my brain fries, let's put this into focus. At birth, I did not receive a certificate outlining the course of my life, a guarantee of good happenings or assurance that I would be spared suffering. I was given life!

At that moment in time — the Greeks call it Kairos — all of life was a part of me: pleasure and pain, suffering and relief, good and bad, faith and disbelief, not just for me, but for the world. Eventually, life taught me lots of reality. Not a great philosophy, but I can live with it. I began to quit finding fault or placing blame on God or giving credit to some evil demonic force for sickness, accident and death. I began to believe that this is life as I have experienced it. I can choose to live where there are earthquakes, floods, mudslides, hurricanes and I can work in dangerous occupations or live in a cave and try to stay safe.

Does this mean that I sit like a stoic and ignore pain and suffering? Of course not! I can become angry and search for answers in the grief and devastation, and I can continue to live to the best of my ability trusting in God for the final conclusion. That's all I can do.

We probably all pray as Aaron, "May the Lord bless us and keep us. May the Lord make His face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us. May the Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon us and give us peace, both now and forevermore." And we might add, "And keep us from all harm."

However, we most likely will fall asleep with, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn (or punish) the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

We can live with that.

Thanks, God!