When Bad Things Happen to Good People…

Harold Kushner is well-known for his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People. When people of faith begin to doubt, this book is a frequent reference.

A Cliff Notes-like internet effort by SuperSummary shares a summary on Kushner’s book HERE, including this commentary (with gender-neutral alterations)

Rabbi Kushner’s main idea is that God cannot, or will not, intervene to protect people from tragedies, nor will God punish or reward them for their actions, preferring that humans use their free will without interference. Thus, bad things can happen to good people by accident or from malicious people, and in remedy God offers only support and love. People must find meaning and purpose from their own strength and resolve in overcoming adversity.

Noteworthy previous pastor commentary also helps, including their own “getting real” feelings with paraphrasing below:

I was angry with God when thinking about how {specific name here} was having to endure the cancer and all the treatments.
God is crying with us as we mourn the victims of the mass shooting in {specific location here}

Bad things happen to good people. And here’s where our community and their mosaic tiles arrive to make the picture complete (quote from final lines of the SuperSummary)

Kushner thus counsels his readers to accept tragedy as a part of life and, in partnership with God and their community, summon the strength to rise up and rebuild a life of love and participation.

May this day bring opportunities for identifying good people enduring bad things and then sharing support – as key tiles in life’s mosaic – stirred by the Spirit!