In a recent New York Times issue, columnist William Safire tackles humanities' bewildered reaction as we reflect on the devastation of the December 26th tsunami. While Mr. Safire would lead us to ponder a very appropriate theo-centric question, "Where was God?" - he attempts a very anthropocentric answer.

Armed with quotes of Voltaire and Virginia Wolfe, Columnist Safire gives erudite reflections on the Biblical account of Job. But unfortunately, as he ponders the existence of God in the face of suffering, Mr. Safire ignores both the text and context of the Biblical account and in his desire to address "Where was God?" he proceeds to remove God from his consideration and consequently from his answer. In the verse he quotes (13:15) and in the surrounding verses, his translation by "modern scholarship" removes and ignores all references to the one for whom Job waits … and in a self induced anthropocentric blindness, Mr. Safire notes this concluding lesson from his study of Job: "Humanity's obligation to ameliorate injustice on earth is being expressed in a surge of generosity that refutes Voltaire's cynicism." Voltaire's cynicism aside, Columnist Safire very neatly and very compactly answers his own theological query about God's involvement in suffering with his anthropological praise of humanity. How far removed Safire is from the suffering Job! Job declares in the midst of his suffering, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." But Humanist Safire apparently would lead us to this conclusion, "Blessed be the name of humanity."

But maybe, in our own contemplation of "Where was God?" (especially, in those cataclysms that tear at our very existence) we might find some food for thought from other parts of the Hebrew Scriptures - words that can inform both readers and columnists alike.

Psalm 46 speaks very clearly of calamitous events such as those of December 26th. Bracketed between the confession that points to God, "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble," and "The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge." we hear this profession, "Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; its waters roar and be troubled, the mountains shake with its swelling." - What a prophetic description of the recent tsunami! The psalmist focuses our deliberation, "Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth." God's answer to our concerns about calamity contains these emphatic and humbling words, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

God is the point of our ponderings about God - man is not! In spite of our desire to exist in a world of our own design and of our own importance, God sometimes sends suffer for the purpose of humbling us and of glorifying Himself. Does this offend us? Maybe this is why Moses gave us words to include in our conversation with God: "So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Return, O LORD! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!"

We need to know that God controls His creation - and we must readily admit that humanity does not! As we ponder the impact and meaning of this recent calamity, dare we conclude that God has heard the prayer of those who pray with the Psalmist: "Put them in fear, O LORD, That the nations may know themselves to be but men." (9:20)

Columnist Safire, Philosopher Voltaire and Author Wolfe - join Job, myself and others in bending merely human knees and in crying out: "Blessed be the name of the LORD." … "Lord, Have mercy!" "Christ, Have mercy!" "Lord, have mercy!"

NOTE: This article has also been submitted to the Cook County News-Herald for their "Superior Reflection" column.

Every year, as we begin a new calendar year, the greeting that is often exchanged between family, friends and acquaintances is, "Happy New Year!" It is most often proclaimed in a festive hope for a positive outcome to a person's next twelve months. Even now, this Christian pastor hopes that your 2005 is one in which you and all people experience happiness.

The dictionary defines happiness as "a well-being provided by the 'hap' of luck or chance." And yet, the positive thoughts and wishes that we exchange often stand in bitter opposition to the realities we experience. The unknowns of the next twelve months do lay ahead of us and they may … no, they will be intermingled with times when our "luck" has gone sour and our "chance" only disappears. None of us knows in advance what awaits us as our January turns into December.

Solomon is quoted as saying, "The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." (NKJ Ecclesiastes 7:8) So maybe, the wish of "Happy New Year" should be saved for the waning days of the year when we can look back and see what chance or luck has provided us. But, I admit that the greeting, "Happy Old Year" sounds hollow and it emphasizes what Solomon already knew - that we are not in control of what comes our way.

But that is exactly what the Wisdom of Solomon declares: "we are not in control!" For he follows the declaration, "The end of a thing is better than its beginning;" with this reflection, "The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." For us this might be paraphrased, "The patient reception of 2005 is better that the hollow control of 2005."

But since we are not in control of what comes our way this year, "Who is? … Who does control all our days and years? If a review of our year and life reveals an absence of control within us even with our hope for "luck " or "chance," maybe we should seek someone who is stronger than both our imagination and us? Perhaps we should look beyond the stage of happiness to the persons who reside and act on a different stage.

The God who identifies Himself as "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" claims that strength and that control. Speaking of Himself in the person of the Son we hear, "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." He created us and He said before He ascended into heaven, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."

God in Jesus Christ is in control of our time and our selves. With the assurance of Jesus, "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age," a Christian approaches this coming year with the assurance that it is neither "themselves" nor "luck" and "chance" that gives them the good and sees them through the bad. Instead it is a person - The Divine Man - Jesus Christ, who controls us, our year and our eternity. He is the One in whom we hope.

So, I guess I was wrong when I wrote above, "this Christian pastor hopes that your 2005 is one in which you and all people experience happiness." … I want neither you nor your year to be governed by the fickle fates of "Luck" or "Chance." Instead, I both wish and pray this for you, "May you and your year be blessed by God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and at the end of this year may your voice be added to the many, "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

NOTE: This article has also been submitted to the Cook County News-Herald for their "Superior Reflection" column.