What's the Point?

God being God, and me a mortal being,
I'm not surprised that I have trouble seeing
The reason He allows some dreadful things;
This world seems full of needless sufferings.
But why would God, who brings forth flowers from buds
Permit diseases, earthquakes, storms and floods?
And in the war, I still can't fathom why
He let so many Jewish people die.

And yet I've come around to understand
That every breath of life - each grain of sand
Is in God's gentle, patient, loving care;
And thus we all are fools to ever dare
To judge that benefits cannot ensue
From awful things: we know that isn't true.
And I for one can say that I can see
Some purpose wrought through pain and misery.

For I have witnessed pain and suffering
That prove the wretchedness of human sin:-
I've watched a dying man; his fearful cry
I will remember to the day I die.
I saw the painful tears his brother cried
As cradled in his arms, he slowly died.
I saw his killer coldly walked away.
I saw the price of anger paid that day.

And I have suffered trouble deep inside
When I have lusted, coveted or lied.
I also see the pain in others' eyes
When I condemn, or harshly criticise.
And all around I see men's anger burn
With guns and bombs, and yet I'm slow to learn
To pray -in times like these - in desperation
Knowing only God can heal a nation.

In Ireland back in 1987,
A bomb in Enniskillen killed eleven.
The TV showed a man who'd had to live
Through awful loss, yet knew he must forgive.
And through his actions I began to learn
Forgiveness is a gift I cannot earn.
And so God sometimes teaches us - through pain -
A truth there is no other way to gain.