All the Difference in the World

 “You know, when you think of it, everything is God's fault...,” said my oldest as he shrugged into his jacket to go outside to play. The comment seemingly came out of nowhere.

“Like even your friend who has cancer. And she never even smoked. That's kind of God's fault....”

“I mean, no offense, God, but...,” he let the comment dangle in mid-air.

Big thoughts for a 10-year-old. Difficult issues for adults. What does a person do with questions like these?

I told him I don't think God is offended when we grapple with difficult issues, ask the hard questions, try to make sense of the things that appear to make no sense, when the closeness of the trees confuses our perception of the panorama.

It is the season of Advent – the season of waiting, anticipating the coming of a Savior, of someone who will enlighten us, who will change us from people of darkness to people of light.

           The people walking in darkness

                 have seen a great light;

           on those living in the land of the shadow of death

                 a light has dawned.

                                  Isaiah 9:2

           When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,

                “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me

                 will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

                                  John 8:12

In a way, everything is God's “fault.” But because the Light of the world has come, we get to choose whether we will view everything in the light or in the dark. And light makes all the difference in the world.