Reflection Paper: Bad Things
It is without a doubt that bad things happen to good people. It could be a loss of someone beloved, sickness or disability. In the Bible, we recall of people like Job. Job was a faithful servant of God. However, he went through a lot of pain and suffering to a point where he almost cursed God. Rabbi Kushner describes the nine traditional reasons for evil. As such, this paper explores the problem of evil in the light of Kushner’s reasons.
The following case involves Janet, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Monaco. She was born in a small village in Portville. Their family lived in extreme poverty. Her parents had no means to make a living since Mr. Monaco was disabled after being involved in a road accident. This fatal event occurred few months after Janet was born.
Back home, Janet continued growing up and her mother struggled through thick and thin to put food on the table. She used to do casual jobs which included doing laundry for the people around the community. She was kind and determined. However, when Janet was about thirteen years, her mother suffered pneumonia and passed away leaving her at the mercy of her disabled father.
Since his father could not manage to provide for Janet, she was taken by her aunt who promised to provide and educate her. Janet was a good-hearted girl, humble and obedient. However, the same cannot be said of the aunt. She primarily abused her; leaving all the house chores to her. She was more than a maid. Despite the conditions, Janet persevered. During the school holidays she would go visit her disabled father and help him with cleaning and cooking. In school she used to clean clothes for her friends to earn some cash so that she can send to her father. When her aunt learnt about it she punished her thoroughly claiming that she was embarrassing the family. Janet ultimately finished her education and started helping her father.
Janet’s case can be best described in the light of Kushner’s reasons for evil. Bad things happen to good people. The big question here is why. Kushner in his traditional response for evil states that ‘there a purpose for everything’ (Kushner 14). I find this response applicable to Janet’s case. God has and knows the purpose for our suffering. He is an all-knowing God. He understands all that is happening to us. In the above case scenario, maybe it was God’s plan for Janet to learn humility and obedience through the hard way for the future glories that await her.
Moreover, God is all powerful and therefore He can accomplish what He wishes to accomplish (Kushner 17). This is according to Kushner. He argues that a God who is good and means well for His people. Hence, He always has a reason for everything that happens. With an infinitely good and powerful God all the evil in the world can be defeated. Good people can overcome the bad things. Moreover, there is a reward for those who persevere just like in the story of Job in the Bible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, good people suffer. This case can be seen in the story of Janet. However, God has a purpose for everything including bad things happening to good people. Even Job suffered and triumphed despite being a faithful servant of God. As such, we should leave it all to God.
Cited Work
Kushner, Harold,. When Bad Things Happen to Good People, New York: Schocken. Books, 1981. Print.
