Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
II Corinthians 1: 3-4
On Sundays I generally look at some concepts related to the New Testament text under study. Today I will digress a bit to discuss some New Testament concepts related to suffering, stimulated by some recent personal events.
This meme recently came across my FB feed:
This meme recently came across my FB feed:
This FB "bumper sticker" briefly mentions two legitimate issues in philosophy and religion, but, of course, it just touches on tip of these philosophical icebergs, as if they were shallow concepts, not deep. An atheist may attempt to explain away beauty as mere illusion while Christians must deal with the problem of evil and pain in a universe created by a loving God.
A children's hospital will rub one's face in the problem of pain.
The problem of evil has a long and deep discussion within Christian philosophy, going back to the book of Job in the Old Testament. The related "problem of pain" is discussed in some depth by C. S. Lewis in his book by that name, written at the end of World War II.
A children's hospital will rub one's face in the problem of pain.
The problem of evil has a long and deep discussion within Christian philosophy, going back to the book of Job in the Old Testament. The related "problem of pain" is discussed in some depth by C. S. Lewis in his book by that name, written at the end of World War II.
I am vividly reminded of this meme by some recent visits to a hospital, to Children's Minnesota in St. Paul.
Most of us do not visit children's hospitals because we are curious or because we have philosophical questions. A visit to a children's hospital is forced on us by the pain and grief of an ill child that we dearly love. Years ago, Jan and I visited a children's hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, invited by a frightened young couple whose daughter was seriously ill. I recall tearing up and crying, just getting off the elevator, before stepping onto the child's floor. The sight of numerous children bundled into hospital beds with anxious parents standing nearby -- all that innocent suffering -- it was overwhelming.
Most of us do not visit children's hospitals because we are curious or because we have philosophical questions. A visit to a children's hospital is forced on us by the pain and grief of an ill child that we dearly love. Years ago, Jan and I visited a children's hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, invited by a frightened young couple whose daughter was seriously ill. I recall tearing up and crying, just getting off the elevator, before stepping onto the child's floor. The sight of numerous children bundled into hospital beds with anxious parents standing nearby -- all that innocent suffering -- it was overwhelming.
I had the same feeling this time. This time the sick little girl was my granddaughter and the anxious parents were my son and daughter-in-law. This deepened the pain. We cried and prayed over the little bundle in the hospital bed. We worried and hoped -- and then rejoiced -- as she slowly got better.
During the week that our granddaughter was in the PICU at Children's Minnesota, she was treated by devoted nurses and doctors. This began in the hurried flurry of activity in the ER as the little girl was admitted and it continued throughout the week. (We have hopes that our granddaughter will be discharged later in the coming week!)
In addition to experienced and dedicated staff, there were a variety of other support services, including the Ronald McDonald Family Room in a nearby wing of the hospital. The "Family Room" has friendly staff and many awesome resources for parents and family members dealing with a child in a nearby wing. The "Family Room" includes four private sleeping rooms and a kitchen with lots of different foods (some ready to be microwaved.) The kitchen is adjacent to a bright beautiful children’s play area staffed by people eager to play with young children. Guests can do laundry, take a shower, nap, relax, recover. Stressed couples can talk to other families; home-cooked meals are offered on a regular schedule. Yes, it is traumatic to have a child in this part of the hospital but the staff understand the suffering and they help families eat, sleep, grieve and then hurry back to hovering over their child’s bed. Alex and Sierra had opportunities to meet other anxious couples at the Ronald McDonald house during their visits.
If there is to be pain and evil in the world, I am grateful that there are places like a children's hospital, where one can see a variety of caring people reaching out, as a hand of God, to hurting families. Each actor, whether doctor, nurse, security, or Family Room staff, each seems to be using his or her talents in critical acts of compassion. I am grateful to God for children's hospitals.
Tomorrow we return to the gospel of Mark, where we read of God's direct intervention in evil, pain and suffering.
Tomorrow we return to the gospel of Mark, where we read of God's direct intervention in evil, pain and suffering.
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