When [Job’s three friends] saw him…they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. (Job 2:12-13, NIV)
At most sporting events these days, there’s a lot of noise. I remember attending Game 2 of the 1987 World Series game between my beloved Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals at the Metrodome, when the decibel level reached an ear-splitting 125. Around the NFL we see the JumboTron scoreboards imploring fans to make noise when the visiting team is trying to call out plays on the field.
Noise in sports prevails—except for golf. We see marshals holding up paddles imploring the patrons to be quiet. We watch players back off a shot and glare in the direction of some perceived sound, such as a camera shutter click. In our own individual golfing experiences, we can be distracted by the sound of a dropped club, a maintenance cart driving by, or change jingling in someone’s pocket. We expect quiet and silence on the golf course, and we tend to have a better experience when there’s an absence of noise during our round.
For over 30 years, the issue of theodicy—the attempt to reconcile the existence of an all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good God with the existence of evil and suffering in the world—was a major stumbling block in my faith journey. My questions were these: “Why does God….?” or “How can God….?” My rational and logical mind just could not find an acceptable answer to the Why/How questions.
At some point in my journey, I realized that maybe, just maybe, while I’m a creature on this earth, I may never find comfortable answers to the Why/How questions, because the issues are insoluble for our rational minds.
We will know when silence is required and when we see it, and we will know what to do.After reading an article by Mark W. Scott about “companion theodicy” in 2010, a new and different approach to the problem of evil and suffering started bubbling in my consciousness.
According to Scott, companion theodicy begins with the assumption that “those in the throes of suffering find comfort in our solidarity with them, not in ill-timed and ill-conceived theological theories.” Scott suggests that “they do not need someone to stand in front of them spewing empty words” and offering theological speculations which at best ring hollow and at worst compound suffering. Instead, Scott maintains that “those beset by misfortune need someone to sit beside them in silence and solidarity.” Scott’s theory recognizes that “people in the depths of suffering want aid, companionship and yes, answers, but not ‘scholarly sleight of hand’.”
In moments of tragedy and despair, we need refrain from asking and answering the Why/How questions and instead focus on the What question: “What can I do to be of assistance to those who are suffering?” It may be as simple as coming alongside them and sitting with them—in silence, as Job’s friends did!
We don’t need someone holding up a marshal’s paddle imploring us to be quiet. We will know when silence is required and when we see it, and we will know what to do. We will sit with those who are grieving and suffering and we won’t say a word—no matter how long it takes. We won’t speak unless spoken to. In that silence, there is great compassion and healing.
Let us remember Job’s friends who sat in silence with him for seven days and seven nights, because they saw how great his suffering was.
—
Mark “Ole” Olson
January 27, 2020
Copyright 2020 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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