Misfortune

Those at ease have contempt for misfortune... -Job 12:5a

We hear it all the time... "If they would get a job, they wouldn't need my tax dollars)"; "God sent that hurricane to (insert city here) because they allow (insert "sin" here)".

We like to think misfortune cannot befall us because we are doing life right. But if you have life, you probably have experienced misfortune of one kind or another. It's easy to think that our own misfortune is no fault of our own, but that other person?... yeah... he's just not trying hard enough.

This is how Job's friends are reacting. I don't think it is because they really believe Job is that terrible, but I think they want to believe it can't happen to them. They are afraid. It reminds me of the scene in the Wizard of Oz where the friends are walking through the enchanted forest to rescue Dorothy from the witch. The scarecrow and tin man are trying to be brave saying, "Bah, there is no such thing as ghosts," when they are suddenly snatched up by an invisible force. The lion falls to his knees chanting, "I DO believe in ghosts! I DO believe in ghosts!" 

Many of us are like the Cowardly Lion chanting whatever mantra we need to in order to ward off misfortune. But the fact is, the rain falls on us all no matter what we say or do.

God of Our Fortunes,

Give us compassion for our neighbors' misfortunes. Amen.