God, why?
By Keith Williamson

What I see on my way to

work has changed. Fifty yards after getting out of my driveway, I am now greeted by a small wreath, a metal cross driven into the ground, and a large wreath hanging on the side of a tree. Brady Singleton, who was not quite four, died there last week.

Brady was riding on a four-wheeler with his grandfather when it got hit unexpectedly from the rear and went into a culvert. Brady wound up under the vehicle which had turned on its side. By the time he was noticed and gotten out, he was gone.

I saw Brady at the funeral home on Friday. The feeling, "God, why?" seemed to hang in the air. A thought kept going through my mind, "If anyone should have been in the funeral home, it should have been me." Many of you know the story. After falling 25 feet and hitting headfirst on rock, I bounced into Lake Hiwassee. I lay there face down in the water, not breathing, and had blood coming out of my head. Someone just happened to be fishing next to me in a boat. Without someone being there to help me, I would have died.

Brady's situation is completely different. The gravel road he was on is about 200 yards long. His grandfather always drove the four-wheeler slowly on the right side. The only place to get into trouble the way they traveled is where they got hit. Anywhere else would still be bad, but at least they wouldn't fall into a hole.

So, I live because I drew the only card that would keep me alive. Brady does not because he drew the only card that would not.

I'm writing this in my Sunday School room of all places. Beside me is a large picture of someone who is supposed to be Jesus. His eyes look compassionate and understanding. My first impulse if I could talk directly with Him would be to ask him why questions about what the previous paragraph contains, but I've learned better.

Relating to God is a matter of faith. He doesn't answer your questions; He asks you to pray and trust Him. This is not an easy thing to do. But it is the only way to obtain, "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding"(Philippians 4:7).

My prayer is all people affected by Brady's passing will give their pain to God and find the peace only trusting Jesus can give. When in God's timing we get to heaven, Brady will be there to greet us.