An Asian Christian woman living in London blogging about the everyday issues of religion

Friday 24 December 2010

Ongoing revision of my Christian faith

I have been in Malaysia for the last two weeks and was mugged. I was with my 11 year old daughter when it happened. Two men on a motorbike came along and snatched my handbag. I lost my holiday money, credit cards, camera with photos of relatives in Malaysia whom I hadn't seen for 12 years and my mobile phone. Fortunately, we weren't hurt but my poor daughter was hysterical with fear and sobbed for 3 hours. Just hours before I had thanked God for the lovely time that we were having. My faith was shaken after the incident. Was I right to feel that way?
In an ongoing revision of my faith I have been questioning my initial reaction. God had not protected me, is how I felt. The physical difficulty of continuing with a holiday after losing my money and cards was depressing. I have always prided myself on being able to overcome my disappointments rather swiftly. I wasn't able to do that when the mugging happened. This, in itself, makes me feel guilty about being angry with God.
Only a fundamental revision of the world that we live in will help me make sense of what happened. Academically I am aware of the Christian argument that man has free will and free choice as to how he exerts this will even if it's against God's will.
Now I need to translate this awareness into a worldly reality. I am going to spend Christmas eve in contemplative prayer about how I make this leap. I need to understand that eventhough Christ was born to save us from our sins and to teach us that our humanity is linked to one another's well being not everyone wishes to follow this teaching and that it is not God's fault if they don't.
Merry Christmas to all my Christian blogger friends.

4 comments:

  1. Every blessing to you too. Have a wonderful Feast of the Nativity, a peaceful Christmastide and a hope-filled new year. Thanks for blogging, and for helping me with mine.

    Blessings and prayers to you and yours
    David

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  2. Dear Fr Cloake,
    Merry Xmas to you and many heartfelt thanks for all your support.
    Jane

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  3. Happy Christmas to you and your daughter, Chelliah.

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  4. Dear Richard,
    Merry Xmas to you too and a Happy New Year. Thank you for visiting my blog.
    Jane Chelliah

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