This is the tenth in a series on My Faith Journey. (If you prefer to listen, click on the arrow below.)
Chaplain Mark Allen Johnston and wife, Lisa Compton Johnston
“I was going to ask God ‘as there is so much suffering in the world and you are able to do something about it, why don’t you?’ but I was afraid God might ask me the same question.”
Chaplain Mark Allen Johnston posted these words on Facebook today while serving overseas in Japan with the U.S. Army.
Mark’s reflection stopped me in my tracks.
I am aware that I regularly play the role of investigator and ask God most of the questions.
Maybe for a change, I need to stop asking God for all of the answers, and listen to some of the questions God might be asking me?
Questions like:
“Malcolm, when are you going to stop worrying about all of the little things that distract you from living life fully?”
Or
“Malcolm, why do you think it is your job to discover something really big you are supposed to do, when there are people you overlook in front of you every single day?”
I think some of God’s questions begin with:
- Who is your neighbor?
- What are you doing about persons who are sick?
- When are you going to feed the hungry?
- Where is the help for the least of these?
- How are you going to clothe the naked?
- Why are you waiting for someone else to do these things?
What question(s) is God asking you these days?
It’s our turn to listen.
Maybe it’s our turn to answer.
Great post, Malcolm!!!
Powerful!
Malcolm-
I love that boomerang question: one that comes right back at you. It’s so easy to complain to God or anyone else about, “Why doesn’t so & so (Government, Big Business, my neighbor, etc.) do something.” Jesus kept showing us and telling us what to do, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, love my neighbor, and God. Sometimes the message is too direct and too simple.
Thank you for making us think.
Harry
Thanks Chandler and Kathy, I appreciate it.
Harry, you are so right about us waiting, looking around for others to do something. I think some of the above questions from God need to be edited by me per your suggestions. So direct, so clear.
Thank you for reading and thinking along with me.
Malcolm