"Refuge" | Reflection by the Rev. Deacon Christy Stang, Outreach Coordinator

The chaos in the world can feel overwhelming. Not only the pandemics of coronavirus and racism weigh down the world, but also the war in Ukraine. The field of “theodicy,” which explores the question of why a good God would allow suffering, has many possible explanations. Still, there is no clear answer on why there is suffering. Although I sit with uncertainty about why there is so much pain in the world, I deeply believe that God grieves that pain more than we ever could. God grieves the death and suffering of God’s beloved children more than we can ever know. The grief that we feel for the shadows of the world is only a fraction of what I sense that God feels. Human suffering can feel raw and overwhelming, driving us to hide from the pain. But we can know that God feels it with us. Whether mired in our own suffering or deeply troubled by the suffering of others, God invites us to find refuge in God’s presence. To allow ourselves to feel what we feel and know that God feels it with us. Tears of solidarity are not a solution to the world's problems, but God's love and compassion provide refuge in a suffering world. As Psalm 91:4 tells us, God “will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge.” God stands with the world in the world’s pain, inviting God's children into the loving embrace of God's presence. When the world cries, God weeps in loving solidarity.