Bumper Sticker “Wisdom”

No, you read it right the first time.  I saw this bumper sticker on a car as I drove Eva to dance class tonight. I just couldn’t believe it! Somebody has got to help me find the humor here.

 

I understand that its message is probably “stop complaining.”  Obviously, that’s a sentiment I support. But even so, I have so much trouble with saying that God would somehow “make” us live longer as punishment for complaining.  Even if it’s meant in jest, it’s not funny to me at all.

 

This is probably due to my trouble with what I’ve come to think of as the “SimGod” theory.  I believe that God is all-powerful and there’s nothing He can’t do.  But I don’t believe that He is sitting around hitting little “Live” and “Die” buttons based on any kind of formula. I blogged previously about the tragedy that hit our community.  There are some people saying that it was in “God’s plan” or “God’s will” that Michael and his sister be murdered by their (step)father.  I just can’t buy into that.  Yes, I believe that we should pray for those who are sick and hurting.  I believe that we can focus God’s love with prayer, like a magnifying glass focusing rays of light. We can direct comfort and healing where it is needed with prayer.  But I don’t believe that people live or die based on the amount of prayer they receive.  Sahara Aldridge had thousands of people praying for her. Was it somehow “God’s plan” for her to die of cancer at such a young age?

 

After 9/11, my pastor used a phrase that has stuck with me.  “God didn’t cause this, but He can use it.” That matches with my philosophy pretty well.  Bad things happen. They aren’t caused, they just happen.  How we choose to deal with it reflects our faith in God.

 

If our way of “dealing with it” is to complain, I certainly don’t think it will prolong our life.  I know this was a roundabout journey from one stupid bumper sticker, but I guess that’s how my mind is working today.

What are your thoughts?