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| Credit: http://sxc.hu |
I 'liked' this Facebook page called "Justice for Kae" about a young 25-year old advertising senior who was killed senselessly on her way home from a party. As I was scrolling through the news feed, I saw a video posted by the admin of the said page about the young man who allegedly killed Kae Davantes along with a group of men who are still at large. The way that she died was so senseless and heartbreaking.
I could only imagine the pain of the people who loved her, especially her parents. For Kae's family, her death is their tragedy. Her death may have been the worst thing that her family might experience, and it is a pain that I can never understand unless I try to be in their shoes.
I thought about my own life and my own set of 'tragedies'. The worst may be too personal to share in this blog, but I do see it as something that happened that has changed my life. What I do know right now is, everyone has had their tragedy. Tragedy spares no social or cultural background, no gender, no life. It doesn't choose who to strike, and no one can ever be completely immune from its hand. It can sweep us through the form of an incurable disease or disorder, a relationship problem, family issues, financial problems or even death of a loved one. It can send us to chambers such as doubt, anger, or bitterness, or even bring us to relentlessly ask God, "Why?"
But being a Christian changed my perspective on how I see tragedy. Yes, tragedy is pain in its worst kind--but you know what I realized? Our worst tragedy is our best testimony. It is your life telling a story, sending a message which says, "Hey, I'm still standing. Not by my own strength, but by God's grace." If only people can see this for every setback they would face, they would not be bound in chains of bitterness and self-loathing. Their lives would not be spent in repetitive doubt and questioning of God's goodness. Because as people, our stories have the potential to speak volumes. To help other people in need. To inspire and encourage. To bring people closer to God.
Maybe God didn't send that tragedy in your life to make you suffer. Maybe He's opening your eyes to see how you can bring people closer to Him through your story. Are you listening to His call?
What's your tragedy?
I recommend reading this book for those who may be pondering on the question of why some good people experience tragedies in their lives:
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
When Harold Kushner’s three-year-old son was diagnosed with a degenerative disease and that he would only live until his early teens, he was faced with one of life’s most difficult questions: Why, God? Years later, Rabbi Kushner wrote this straightforward, elegant contemplation of the doubts and fears that arise when tragedy strikes. Kushner shares his wisdom as a rabbi, a parent, a reader, and a human being. Often imitated but never superseded, When Bad Things Happen to Good People is a classic that offers clear thinking and consolation in times of sorrow. (Credit: Amazon.com)
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