Page 9 - Have Faith Nov
P. 9

Day 6



        Choices & Blame...                                                              Ecclesiastes 9:1-18

                                            one but these days to rectify the mistake, we
                                            just pick up the remote, press a button and the
                                            job is done.

                                            Not so easy in life. Choices we make in life
                                            will have good and bad consequences, but we
                                            have to stand by the decisions we make and
                                            learn the lessons whether good or bad. This
                                            is because we are given the free will to make
                                            choices. Bear this fact in mind for later in the
                                            reflection.

                                            Now to blame. Have you ever blamed anyone
                                            for something that has happened only to find
                                            you were wrong? I have, on many occasions.
                                            But there is one form of blame that makes me
                                            very uncomfortable, unfortunately, I hear it
                                            over and over again.  When someone loses a
                                            loved one or there is a violent attack or war,
                                            I hear ‘There can’t be a God if he lets this
                                            happen’ or words to that effect.  It is very easy
                                            to blame someone when we can’t explain what
                                            has happened. Our thoughts can get very
        Let’s start with Choices. I have to confess to   confused and we tend to strike out at any
        being a bit of a movie buff. I have all of the   avenue that is open.  Unfortunately, God takes
        movie sites on my PC, Netflix, Now TV, Sky   his fair share of the blame.  I have realised that
        Movies, you name it, I’ve got it. I have an   God has to allow nature to take its course
        extensive collection of DVD’s including many   even when events lead to major tragedies. He
        comedy box collections, war movies, action   cannot upset the natural balance of the world
        movies, musicals (Can’t believe I’ve just  by intervening. He has to let us, as individuals,
        confessed to that one) plus lots of old classics.   make choices and stand by the consequences.
        Yet, when it comes to watching a movie with   That way we learn and improve ourselves.
        my partner, it takes me an eternity to find   Even wars, started by men making choices.
        something we both like. I think back some   Not God. He cannot save us from worldly
        years ago when my dad bought his first VCR.   events, illnesses, violence and conflicts. It
        He had just two or three films and five TV   would be wrong for him to do that.
        stations to watch but all of us would sit around
        the old box and have a good movie night.   But despite all of this it doesn’t mean that he
                                            has walked away. He is still there for us to talk
        The trouble these days is, we have far too   to, to lean on and to look after those that leave
        much choice. We please ourselves and make   us. At times of pain, God is our comfort, not
        that decision on what we watch just by the   our blame object. Just something worth
        way we feel and what we fancy. We have that   thinking about.
        choice. The choice we make may not be a good

        www.havefaith.org.uk                                                                                                             09 |
   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14