Why Me, Lord?

I really need to stop getting on the internet before church. There is a story on the morning news feed about a Floridia teen that killed herself on Mar 6. She was transitioning from male to female. It wasn't that her parents, schools, or friends didn't accept her. They did. She wasn't bullied or attacked.

The information about why she killed herself is limited, but it seemed she could no longer bear living in the wrong body. These are feelings I fully understand, yet I get to survive.

I am so lucky. I have a pragmatic mind, a somewhat exaggerated sense of humor, and strong survival instincts. I have good friends who love me, and a church community that has accepted me. I am trying to figure out why I get to survive and this beautiful teen doesn't.. It certainly is not because I deserve it. So I ask

Why me, Lord?

Goodbye Dr, Hawking

I had not planned to say anything about the recent death of Dr, Steven Hawking. To say he was a genius was understatement. As far as his disability, one has to be careful what they say these days. Any well-intentioned comment can be interpreted badly by the PC crowd. Hawking's bout with ALS seems heroic to most of us. Purely speculation, but I am thinking that it is just the way life is for others.

Just one other comment. Back when the great scientist and  writer Issac Asimov died there were comments to the effect that "he knows the truth about God now". I cannot tell you  how much this condescending attitude bothers me. Do we Christians really need to build ourselves up at the expense of others? Just so you know, being a Christian isn't something we get to congratulate ourselves for. And is there no compassion for those whose great minds, for whatever reason, has not acknowledged God? I guess I have struggled too much with my faith way too much to ever be smug about it.