Comments on: Spiritual violence

By: len hindle

len hindle — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:26:10 +0000

seeing those we love suffer is harder than if we ourselves were the afflicted

I once heard a sermon that helped me in this regard it was called A Second Hand Offence.
It basically said that sometimes we are unaware of the inner strength (perhaps grace) given to someone in great extremity and because we can not see or feel that mercy we can be more offended with God than the one experiencing the affliction itself.

I hope you and your loved one will be filled with unseen but deeply felt graces.

By: Stephen T Berg

Stephen T Berg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:10:52 +0000

Thank you Len. And yes, she is indeed.

By: len hindle

len hindle — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:03:04 +0000

the mystery of what God allows
and the pain that even well meaning proponents
of a certain kind of faith can cause
are great scandals and roadblocks
for us all

I hope this isn’t too personal a question (and you do not have to respond to it)
but I am wondering if the young woman you speak so movingly about is related to you?

By: Stephen T Berg

Stephen T Berg — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:41:45 +0000

Thanks for your comment David.

By: David Kralik

David Kralik — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:19:00 +0000

Thank you, Stephen, for sharing these splendid thoughts. They hit (no violence intended) the nail squarely on the head.

By: Stephen T Berg

Stephen T Berg — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:17:24 +0000

Teryl, you’re welcome! Thank you for reading.

By: Teryl

Teryl — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:08:47 +0000

Thank you Dad.

By: Stephen T Berg

Stephen T Berg — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:09:17 +0000

Thank you for this Lucy. Leaving the status quo behind can be terrifyingly creative, but it is, as you say, where the spirit of God lurks.

By: Stephen T Berg

Stephen T Berg — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:04:35 +0000

Thank you connie!