“Why”

I love this song ‘Why’ by Nicole Nordeman. It is a song about a little girl asking her father why Jesus was crucified.

Last Sunday, I read a blog post from a respectable, senior blogger, Zorro who normally writes social-political stuffs. Someone visited a children’s ward in a local hospital and met with a lot of children who are extremely sick. The visit affected her a lot and she asked where is God when a child with mouth cancer is suffering.

I dare not tell her/Zorro that God is there. (because I don’t expect anyone to believe me, anyway) God is there with the doctors and nurses to find a cure for the little boy. God is there to grant the boy the ability to smile inspite of his sufferings. God is there for the parents who lovingly care for him. God is hurting as much as Zorro and everyone of us when we see an ill child.

I know because I asked the same ‘why’ before. I asked many whys. But I don’t get the answer at that very moment. I found the answer many months later when my son has died. It is part of life. It is not exactly answer but comfort. Comfort that there is always a better world out there. One that each of us hope to be there one day. Meanwhile, we have to plod on and on, despite of all the pains, sufferings and agonies. If we are not the one suffering, we have to reach out for those who are. God is with us, to give us the heart and love to ease the sufferings.

I had spent seven months in that hell hole call PICU where children die/suffer/hanging on to life and no one can change my mind that I believe there is indeed God with us. A hurting God that hurts as much as us. We live on earth, not heaven. Sickness, pain, agonies, anger, disappointment, total loss of hopes and every negative things are part of our package on earth.

We rode into town the other day
Just me and my Daddy
He said I’d finally reached that age
And I could ride next to him on a horse
That of course was not quite as wide

We heard a crowd of people shouting
And so we stopped to find out why
And there was that man
That my dad said he loved
But today there was fear in his eyes

So I said “Daddy, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is He dressed in that bright purple robe?
I’ll bet that crown hurts Him more than He shows
Daddy, please can’t you do something?
He looks as though He’s gonna cry
you said he was stronger than all of those guys
addy, please tell me why
Why does everyone want him to die?”

Later that day the sky grew cloudy
And Daddy said I should go inside
Somehow he knew things would get stormy
Boy was he right
But I could not keep from wondering
If there was something he had to hide

So after he left I had to find out
I was not afraid of getting lost
So I followed the crowds
To a hill where I knew men had been killed
And I heard a voice come from the cross

And it said, “Father, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for My robe?
This crown of thorns hurts Me more than it shows
Father, please can’t You do something?
I know that You must hear My cry
I thought I could handle the cross of this size
Father, remind Me why
Why does everyone want Me to die?
When will I understand why?”

“My precious Son, I hear them screaming
I’m watching the face of the enemy beaming
But soon I will clothe You in robes of My own
Jesus, this hurts Me much more than You know
But this dark hour I must do nothing
Though I’ve heard Your unbearable cry
The power in Your blood destroys all of the lies
Soon You’ll see past their unmerciful eyes
Look there below, see the child
Trembling by her father’s side
Now I can tell You why
She is why You must die”

(lyrics from Christian Music Online)