Reflecting on catastrophe

The chaplain at Fairview Mennonite Home in Cambridge, Ont., Susan Kennel Harrison, recently told me about several discussions she had had on the earthquake tragedy in Bam, Iran. The quake killed more than 30,000 people, injured thousands more, and left at least 40,000 people homeless.

Susan invited a group of seniors to reflect on how they understood this catastrophe in light of their Christian faith. What words of consolation would they offer to the earthquake victims?

Some understood the quake as a “test” from God. Others remarked that it is a sign of the end times. Yet others saw the quake as a “wake-up call” for believers who are to respond with compassion to those who are suffering, and for unbelievers to repent and accept God as their Saviour. “This is God’s will” was another way of seeing the tragedy, since nothing can take place without God allowing it.

Another reason offered was that we live in God’s created world: a world of cause and effect. Geological disturbances and other such happenings in our physical world result in earthquakes from time to time and God chooses to let creation live by such “laws of nature.” Yet at the same time God can and sometimes does choose to miraculously intervene in the midst of the created world with all its laws of cause and effect. Why or when God does and does not intervene is not for us to know.

Susan also met with a small group of Christians and Muslims to reflect together on “How do you understand the suffering in Bam in light of your faith?” An Iranian Muslim in the group affirmed that God is perfect and knows everything. The group also discussed what kinds of tragedies would tempt us to blame God more than others.

Out of that came the recognition that how one responds in faith in the midst of tragedy is often related to the nature of one’s relationship to God in general. Those who have learned to “rejoice in all things” will find a way to journey with God when suffering of tremendous proportion comes to them. The group also recognized that times of tragedy are opportunities to exercise generosity and compassion toward those in need.

Why some escaped death and many others did not is a question bigger than we can answer. What words of consolation would you offer the earthquake survivors?

“If I was a survivor,” Susan says, “I know I’d want someone to help me start my life over again.” As Christians, our Lord taught us to do to others what we would want them to do for us. I hope we will do so for the Muslims of Bam, as well as anyone in suffering and in need. I hope we will find many ways to sustain and share our faith that God is good, even in the midst of suffering and pain.

Arli Klassen is executive director of MCC Ontario. This reflection was part of a mailing sent to Mennonite and Brethren in Christ congregations in Ontario.