| Commentary on the Book of Job After reading Job and then rereading it, I find myself in awe of what God has done to this man. God stripped away all of his family, except his wife, and has left him with a set of unsupportive friends. While God is ever present and aware of all that is happening to Job, Job often questions�Why God? Why does this happen to me? God doesn�t ever tell him why anywhere within the text. The situation in itself makes no sense when one takes into account the theory of retribution. Here is a good man who has led a good life who is left with nothing but pain and suffering. He has been faithful to God and followed his commandments, but he has to suffer the pains of boils and sores. Just when he feels he can�t take anymore grief from his pains or the pains of his friendships, Job is restored. We as the readers and theologians are left emptied handed without hearing God�s explanation of why this had to happen to such a man. This theme of questioning God�s �why� appears to be a reoccurring one within the Bible. God does unexplainable things to people and often times he doesn�t deem it necessary to answer the why part. In the Exodus story we see Moses being called by God to lead his people out of the land. Does Moses want to do this? No, but God wills this calling for him. Moses asks why numerous times in the text through his excuses of �I can�t speak well�, etc. While God doesn�t give a clear or define reply, we see that God wanted it for Moses, therefore, it happened. That appears to be the case of Job�s suffering as well. Job didn�t ask to suffer as many later mystics had, but for some reason God willed it, therefore, it happened. I look to this story of Job and apply it to a modern day situation I have encountered within my own life. A dear friend of the family is from the Hmong culture from the country of Laos and has been quite ill for about a month now. It is important to note here that the family is not Christian, but practices the Shaman traditions. Since birth, the young man has been unable to speak and since then has begun some of the most enduring times of pain. He receives sharp pains to both the head and the stomach, sporadically throughout the day. He has gone through numerous doctor and hospital visits, left with no medical explanations. This family turns to their culture and has even searched for God within all of this. I went and visited with the family over Thanksgiving break and what I saw was unexplainable. It was beyond words, almost unreal. I have never seen another human being experience so much pain and cry out from that pain. As I watched, I asked God, why? Why would God do this to a 14 year old boy who is gentle, kind hearted and has lived a complicated life with his inability to speak. My first thought was that it was God�s plan and perhaps it was God�s way of bringing that family to Christ, but ultimately I didn�t need to know the answer to why. God will eventually reveal what he chooses to reveal in the right time. I sat there and watched each time he convulsed, and I eventually broke down into tears. I cried a sobbing cry where I not only ached to hug him, but I also ached for Christ to come down and heal him. That eye opening experience will stay with me forever, as will the realization that something we as Christians have that non-Christians might not is a peace of mind. That peace of mind that when our life shatters and when things really begin to turn into a landmine, we have two choices�turn to God or turn away from God. In taking the route Job chose�turning to God�we see later in the story that restoration is possible. Christ�s own suffering is an image for Christians to reflect upon during times of trial and pain in our own lives. Even this family that follows an Eastern tradition has turned to Christianity as an alternative explanation when and if their tradition doesn�t cure the boy. I saw this family coming together because of the boy�s pain and while God wasn�t giving the answers as to why this was happening to him, they supported him. In the book of Job, we see that Job doesn�t have Christ, but only God to turn to. If I were to add one thing to the entire book of Job, it would be that it were written after the time of Christ so that we would be able to see how Job sorted his suffering out with the image of Christ�s suffering. Also I wonder how Job would have better coped with the suffering had his friends been more supportive of him as I had seen with this suffering boy�s family. There seems to be strength in friendship and a sense of community that helps a person to endure pain, a sense of knowing that another person is praying and having hope that the ill would be well. Job perhaps would have made it through his suffering with a little bit less pain had the friend�s been supportive. The ultimate message of Job is that we can�t understand why there is pain and suffering in our world. We can�t understand why bad things have to happen to good people, but we can seek solace in knowing that God wills it in either case. May Job be a model of faithfulness to God in power to never let go of his relationship with God. Finally, I think it is extremely important that we as Christians and future leaders within the church take a look at Job through a culture other than our own. It seems important to realize that in times of suffering people will turn to many means to gain insight into the question of why such events are taking place. People from all walks of life and cultures will and probably have turned to this specific book within the Old Testament as a guide to make it through their suffering. |
| Junk(June 2001) Paper clips holding my last night written report, torn jeans that ripped when I danced in the street, and newpaper clippings from my 4th grade honor roll. Junk holds us together, with the memories that brought us together, now I sit trying to remember things gone by. Tangled Christmas lights with too much burnt out, empty beer cans from last nights cook out. A trash can filled to the brim with banana peels and bottle caps, reminding me that nostaglia is nothing but the past. Concert stubs thrown in my top dresser drawer, empty tube of toothpaste withers in my sink, stuff and things fill my life, I want to remember. |
| My Garden ( summer 2001) In my calm mind there, is a quiet place I frequent. Still and peaceful, only I may go. Eyes closed and deep breath, my world opens to this place, beauty and serenity fill my garden. Birds hum their sweet melodies, as the water trickles, behind me at the nearby pond. Lilac colored flowers scent the cool breezes, inviting me to inhale the sweet perfumes. I find a soft patch of grass, upon which to trod. My toes squish and I take a seat, gazing upon my garden. Beauty peace and tranquility, mark this place. Where only I may come and go. |
| Your Eyes(2003) Your eyes are like open doors to your soul, that I wish I could open. When you speak it is as if honesty and laughter, line your childlike lips. I yearn to hear your words, thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Your smile fills my heart with happiness, and joy. Something which has been absent for far too long. Certainty in God's will for us will be revealed, someday. Somehow. |
| Delicate Love (spring 2003) Love delicate as a budding petal, new morning rose, opening to splendor. Unfolding to scents of mystical proportion, full of wonderful creativity and future. Beauty of color develops, to show what true wonder of what life can be. Delicate and ever changing, revisiting beauty that is soon fading. life like love is each unique. Revealing the power of the cycle, Love is but a journey into an uncertain unknown. |
| Unhappy Heart(2004) Photographs of past days fill my room, reminding me of better times, better places. Reflecting on old torn notes, love letters of sorts. Ticket stubs and a fallen heart, my soul is ever turned upside down. Hopes and wishes never last, when expectations for a future are too high. What is left to dwell on? What is left to see? There is still life inside of me, the part of me that is wishing to be. Just a bit closer, to finding a peace of mind. |
| Confusion(fall 2003) Mirror mirror on the wall, what is the fucking fairest of them all? Tell me tell me why did i fall, catch me catch me I'm too long gone. So hard so fast, its unrepairable. Unmendling what has been done, is unreplaceable. Am I happy? Am I sad? Question fill my head, questioning the past. Yet I keep on trying, with all my might. Forgiving and forgetting, is what is right. With God on my side, anything is possible. Even when moving forward, taking risks seems so impossible. |
| As the tiny caterpillar feared his life was drawing to an end. It was then that he became a beautiful butterfly. |
| Silly Boy(Feb. 2004) That man of mine, loves to eat fish sticks with a side of ketchup, dance around in his drawers, doing funny Ali Abu impressions. He's quiet and considerate, gentle if you will. Making love to informercials, talking to the air. Many misunderstand that man of mine, his unfamiliar ways. Owning two pairs of shoes, khaki pants and polo shirts and not feeling out of place. He doesn't try to be perfect, nor insecure at best. Not putting up some pretend plastic walls, to block off the chilly winds. When he concentrates really hard, his eyes blink up and down. He doesn't try to hide his feelings, behinds some concrete wall. Statistics and computations abode his head, telling stories of others which weren't already said. Simple adventures fill his life, keeping him near in spirit but not far away in depth.. I wonder what his future brings, business world surrounds. He hopes to retire by his 40th birthday, not a moment after that.. Dreams fill his world with color, of soon to be returns. There are no dull moments, doing laundry and going places in the afternoon. Dinner dates and walks along the road, kisses exchanged outside the Qdoba restaurant. Reminding me that time will not change, what it is I will always feel. Open talks and open secrets, fill our conversations. Truth be told, I love him still. |
| Time will tell all things. |