Agency

So often when I find people who don't believe in God and are angry at the very idea of God, it is because of the suffering that is allowed. In other words ...

Why do bad things happen to good people?

It is easy to look around and wonder when there is so much that is clearly wrong, and so based in cruelty.

Obviously, that happens through the choices people make.

Previously, when I have thought about that, I have thought about how I ultimately do value my ability to choose, and would not give that up easily. In addition, I know that I have learned and grown from making these choices. While it would have been hard to have said at the start of any trial, Yes, I want to go through this, I usually can see the value in retrospect.

Recently I have been thinking about another aspect of that, with Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac.

It seems like such a cruel request, and something that under other circumstances would be seen as sinful. 

I believe that both Abraham and Isaac learned and grew from that, and they were willing to submit to it. 

I suspect that part of what they learned was a greater understanding of the Atonement, and the roles of the Father and the Son in that Atonement, along with its saving power as there was a substitute provided for Isaac.

It seems likely that for where they were already at in their spiritual journey, that's what was needed for their next step toward completeness.

Yet still, it seems cruel and makes a lot of people uncomfortable.

So, being here with all of us running around making choices, rather than having every single trial custom-made for us by God, turns out to be pretty effective. With understanding of the plan we also don't have to feel like God is picking on us.

We can get closer to God, asking for support and understanding. We can feel our own healing through the Atonement, and we can have assurance that all will be healed in time, for us and for others.

All of those are remarkable things. I am grateful for that knowledge and learning. I am wiser and my heart is more tender.

I'm not saying it is easier, and I am not saying I am never angry. This is the other thing that's important with that.

First of all, we should do anything we can to help and not harm. This can involve giving time and money, speaking comforting words and writing petitions and it may even include demonstrating or stepping into a conflict at personal risk. Knowing the best thing isn't always easy, but we care, we believe in doing what's right, and we believe in helping.

Ways we might get this wrong include assuming that everyone suffering brought it upon themselves. That is the common Republican failing. 

The common Democrat failing is deferring to power too much, and going too slowly. 

The common Progressive failing is getting mad at the Democrats -- apparently believing that all of the delay is choice, as opposed to some things actually not being within their power -- and then being spiteful and dishonest. It includes making new problems for other people instead of helping the original people.

I mean, there are a lot of ways of being wrong. As we get closer to an election, I am sure I will spend more time on those.

Still, the overall point is that we all have agency, and that is what we need, even though there are things that are hard about it.

Our successful navigation of that will require prayer and humility. It will leave us kinder and more loving, with more grace for others and ourselves.

If your primary feelings are contempt for others -- for almost everyone, in fact -- you are probably not where you need to be, but I hope that you get there. 

I hope that we get there together.