Friday, December 16, 2005

Why God Allows Pain

This was sent to me by my good friend Tracy (I miss riding with you, Tracy).

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen. It's an explanation other people will understand.

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.  As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:  "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.  Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick  people?  Would there be abandoned children?  If God existed, there would be  neither suffering nor pain.  I can't imagine a loving a God who would allow all  of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.  The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.  Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said  to the barber:  "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I  am a barber.  And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed.  "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards,  like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is that people do not come to  me."

"Exactly!"  - affirmed the customer.  "That's the point!  God, too, DOES exist!  What happens is that people don't go to Him and do not  look for Him.  That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

How very true that is....beautiful.  Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

ohhhhhhhh, VERY good indeed!   Anne

Anonymous said...

So true!  A great explanation and an easy story to remember.  Thanks for sharing it!

Anonymous said...

Very nice. Unfortunately many people who go to HIM are surrounded by people who don't in this big world......And that's where most of the pain is caused to those who don't deserve it.



Anonymous said...

VERY GOOD...................STORMIE

Anonymous said...

so true and also because we are so sinful - just the way humankind is going to be until Jesus comes back.

I've heard this illustration before and it is good. thanks for sharing

betty

Anonymous said...

So what this little tale tells us is that: "God" wants people to come to "Him" or else they get what they deserve????   There is a world of suffering going on out there...and many of them are too poor and hungry and/or sick to contemplate these metaphysical concepts.  

Anonymous said...

Simple - and to the point. It's all about choice - as for me and my house, we have chosen the way of the Lord. Not easy - but worth it all.  †

Anonymous said...

have read this before....but still give my heart a jolt....simple lesson...how soon we forget....think I will copy this for the fridge for a while....Hugs...Ora

Anonymous said...

I have never seen this before, but it's a perfect analogy!  Thank you for sharing, Mosie!

Jackie

Anonymous said...

And I miss you as my rider.........