Images of suffering

Another earthquake that hits another country, leading to much damage and loss of life. I wonder how to bring this meaningfully into my Lenten journey. It is more comfortable to stay at the spiritual level and not face the realities of true human suffering......because facing such realities would make any even slightly sensitive soul 'wonder' - at the mystery of life and death.

The World Press Photo Contest 2009 top prizes went to photographers who recorded "images of fear and suffering". Graphic portrayals of life in situations where people live in fear and uncertainty every moment. It seems like people are somehow attracted by these images of broken humanity- yet what do they do with them? How does it truly affect them? Does it make any difference to the way they view and live life? The way we understand the mystery of life and death?

"Finding God in all things" sounds so trite when we are confronted with such brutal reality. It seems a nice and manageable spiritual goal when things are pleasant albeit with the occasional hiccup. But what when disaster on a massive scale strikes? As an outsider looking in, one can never propose to the suffering 'where God is' - it would be totally insensitive and cruel.

But maybe somewhere within the rubble, maybe somewhere someone will capture an image that speaks of God's presence and action even in the mess. Only from the depths of painful struggle can someone rise up and declare that "Indeed God is in this place". The Lenten journey prepares us to walk with Jesus even to Jerusalem, and Golgotha and stay at the foot of the Cross, and witness "God is in this place".