In the Book of Job in the Old Testament, Job suffers every conceivable loss and heartache in a short period of time. His grief, confusion and despair are unfathomable for most who have not sat in his shoes.  It is in the midst of his torment that three of his friends show up to console Job.  For seven days and nights, they simply are present with their friend.  In the Book of Job it says, “No one said a word to Job for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.”

Indeed over the course of my life there have been occasions when I felt compelled to heed this counsel and simply sit with the one for whom I was caring.  Perhaps I should be taking this Godly advice this week and say nothing about Las Vegas and the horror and resultant unimaginable grief directly affecting thousands of our fellow human beings.  Maybe I should just be offering a blank page to create room for us to pray.  

But in the midst of such questioning I was hit with another question.  A question that I cannot answer for you as I believe we each need to come to our own conclusion.  That question, “Is it worth it?”

Two people meet.  There is an unexplainable chemistry.  When they look into each other’s eyes, there is a look that cannot be replicated with any other human being.  A father reaches out and takes the hand of his young daughter.  As they walk along, the father recognizes the gift that his daughter is and that such blessings are ephemeral.  

A woman, well trained in medicine, travels to a war torn area or a place decimated by a natural disaster to serve those with nothing left.  A nanny quietly kisses a sleeping child on her forehead because she knows the parents won’t take the time to do so.  

A young fellow pulls over on the highway to help a family who are in a beaten up old van with a flat tire.  A minimum wage nurse’s aide stays after her shift is over on her own time to sit with an aged woman whose family has other things to do.  A wealthy man believes all he has is a gift so he generously gives money away with zero demand for accolades or credit.  An unemployed woman who struggles day to day puts a dollar in the plate each week, it is her widow’s mite.  

A neighbor makes a meal for a neighbor.  A friend sends a note of encouragement to a far away friend who is hurting.  A single mom works two jobs and stays up late at night helping her two children complete homework.  A 7th grader goes straight to the kid who had been subjected to teasing and asks him to play.  A person says, “I am sorry.”  After scoring two touchdowns, the high school player gives all the credit to his team.

A first responder shows up while bullets continue to fly rendering aid to whomever is before him.  A man shields his wife from the gunfire saving her life yet losing his own.   A person stands in silence at the scene of the massacre and quietly prays to God for healing for those whom she has never met.

Each of these images, while varied, share one thing in common.  The action taken happened because the person involved had the free will to choose to do so.  None of the actions were forced.  They happened because a decision was made.  Goodness, kindness, generosity, integrity, and selflessness, are a direct consequence of the freedom to choose.  And such actions far outnumber the actions of those who choose the path of evil.

The same is true of love.  Love can never be forced.  Love can only be love through the freedom to love. I cannot make another love me, nor can any of us.  Love demands free will and love cannot exist without it.  And love is far more ubiquitous than hate.  

Yet it is this same free will, this same ability to make choices, this same freedom to choose, that since the beginning of time has led some to inflict unspeakable harm, destruction, and suffering on others.  From Austin, Texas, to Virginia Tech, to Sandy Hook, to Orlando, to Las Vegas, all such things happened because of free will and of course evil playing on it.   

And so I wonder, is free will worth it?  Or would humankind be better without the option of making choices and acting on volitional decisions? Would we be better off without love, the kind of love that demands free will?  Would we be better off as robots without the ability to decide?  Is free will worth it?  If not, then what?  If so, then what?  

There have been many times in my life in which I have had nothing to say about the pain before me.  All I’ve known to do in such moments is to get on my knees and pray, look at the cross of Jesus and leave the answers to Him.  And pray we must as well as love.  To love God and love people through the choices we make each moment in light of those who choose the opposite. Take a moment right now and pray for our hurting sisters and brothers in Las Vegas and beyond.