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Why Not?
 
How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
       How long will you hide your face from me?
 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
       and every day have sorrow in my heart?
       How long will my enemy triumph over me?
 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
       Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
       and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
 
Psalm 13: 1-4
 
Many times in our life we hear the one word question, “Why?” It seems as if this one word question is asked in response to a situation or concern which appears as if it would be unfair, harmful or hurtful.
 
Let me illustrate. In 1974 I weighed 185 pounds. In three months I weighed 145 pounds. Although this would normally be considered a good thing, for me it was not. I spent three weeks in a St. Louis hospital while doctors tested, prodded, poked and speculated. They would greet me each morning with another litany of what I did not have, and proceed to fill me in on the tests that would rule out yet another ailment. In the meantime I was still loosing weight and had to eat hospital food – not a good combination.
 
The tests usually involved placing something into my body in a way that was not natural for my body or drinking some concoction that was supposed to not taste bad – actually if it would have tasted bad I would have considered it a blessing.
 
Finally the doctors gathered around me and announced – you have Crohn’s disease. My initial reaction was, “What is that?” After I received the explanation, I heard myself asking that one word question, “Why?” What had I done that I deserved such a trial? What could I do now? Why me, Oh, Lord.
 
The second time I heard the “Why” question was in 1991 – after my wife had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, after she had survived the chemo, after she was back teaching, a third grade student looked up at her and asked, “Why, Mrs. Cohrs? Why you? There are lots of sinners around, lots of bad people, why you?”
 
“Why?” has become almost second nature over the years – I asked why when the boss told me my job was eliminated. I asked why when the doctor said my wife had three weeks to live. I asked why when my son had to stay in the hospital after he was born. I asked why when my oldest son had to be born with an emergency C-section or die. I asked why when I had to have surgery. I asked why when I had cancer. I asked why when the school building didn’t sell. I asked why when I had to tell a teacher hat there was no position at this school for them anymore.
Yes, bad things happen to good people and the tendency is to ask “Why?” – lash out and declare, “It is not fair” and then lash out.
 
I have been there – I have witnessed the lashing out – I have done the lashing out.
 
I started to read Job and then Jonah, and then Moses and Abraham and all of the others that argued with God. I yelled at God, I rallied against Him.
 
Whenever I hear the “why?” question, it is usually asked not expecting an answer. Two times I received an answer.
 
The first was from my wife who answered her student who asked why her with the sage words, “Why not?” She further explained that God does not punish, He tests. His testings are  always designed to strengthen. His testings bring us closer to Him. Her “Why not?” answer stuck with me. Followed to the logical conclusion – God’s testings are a demonstration of His love. If He didn’t care He wouldn’t draw us to Him.
 
The second time was from Mrs. Walker when I had to tell her that her position at OSL was no longer viable. I expected the “Why?” I was prepared for the “Why?’ She answered before I could with the “Why Not?” God was using her and He would still use her – a beautiful testimony.
 
When I am tempted to ask the “Why?” I am mindful of the “Why Not”
 
 But I trust in your unfailing love;
       my heart rejoices in your salvation.
 I will sing to the LORD,
       for he has been good to me.
Psalm 13: 5-6
 

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