Why is there so much suffering in the world?

It’s been a strange summer … I have to tell you that I would have had a happier summer if I hadn’t watched or listened to the news, but I care about my country and I care about the world. It’s my duty to stay informed however there have been some heart-breaking news stories here in Australia this summer.

I heard of a number of beautiful, innocent families wiped out in car accidents and too often the other driver was at fault. The accident that has received the most coverage involved the actress Jessica Falkholt. She was in the television series, Home and Away, and was also a graduate of the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Arts – the same acting school Cate Blanchett, Mel Gibson and Sam Worthington went to. Jessica was the main star of the new feature film Harmony, which should have come out on New Year’s Day, but Jessica was injured in a head-on crash on Boxing Day, and the film’s release has been delayed. Jessica’s father, mother and sister were killed in this accident. The driver of the other car crossed to their side of the road. The 27-year-old young actress, who had her whole life in front of her, is now in hospital in a critical condition, gravely ill. The other driver, 50-year-old Craig Whitall, died in the crash near Sydney. He had been convicted of more than 60 driving offences, and had served time in jail for drunk driving. He had only recently got his license back and was coming back from a methadone clinic. A lot of people are wondering why the state gave him his license back. A lot people are wondering how such a terrible thing could happen. Another family, here in Queensland, the state I live in, was hit by a car that crossed to the wrong side of the road on Christmas day. The family were driving to a Christmas lunch with extended family. The mother and 18-year-old daughter, who was a state bowling champ, were killed. Again, why did this happen?

More heartbreak in Australia

This week there has been more heartbreak in Australia. A 14-year-old girl, who as a small child appeared in an advertisement for the outback hat firm Akubra, has taken her own life because of online bullying.  Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett, who lived in the remote Northern Territory, was due to return to boarding in Queensland in a couple of weeks. Dolly’s father said she had wanted to ‘escape the evil in this world’. In his Facebook page, Tick Everett said he hoped the attention on Dolly’s death last week might “help other precious lives from being lost”.

He also invited the bullies to her funeral, to “witness the complete devastation you have created”. The family released a statement to media outlets saying Dolly had been “the kindest, caring, beautiful soul …She was always caring for animals, small children, other children at boarding school who were less fortunate than herself”. The family shared a recent drawing by Dolly showing a thin figure bent over backwards underneath the words: "Speak even if your voice shakes.”. Her family said, “This powerful message tells the dark, scary place our beautiful angel had travelled to”.

Bullying of any type is unacceptable

The Akubra hat company wrote on its Facebook page: “Dolly chose to end her life last week due to bullying. She was not even 15 years old. To think that anyone could feel so overwhelmed and that this was their only option is unfathomable. Bullying of any type is unacceptable. It is up to us to stand up when we see any kind of bullying behaviour. Dolly could be anyone's daughter, sister, friend. We need to make sure that anyone in crisis knows there is always someone to talk to. Be a friend, check up on your mates.”

My youngest daughter is only a couple of years younger than Dolly and also goes to school away from me in another state. I was totally and utterly heart-broken by Dolly’s death. Why is there so much suffering in the world?

Christians make sense of suffering through a prism of faith

I guess when it comes to making sense of suffering we Christians have it a bit easier, because we make sense of the world through a prism of faith. Yes, it is easy to lash out at God, but God does not cause this suffering. It’s usually us people who cause suffering – yes, the bullies and the drunk drivers, but before you are consumed by self-righteous anger remember that we have all hurt other people. Suffering is caused by people’s rebellion against God and by the evil in our hearts. Suffering comes from the freedom God has given us. If we were robots God could force us to always love him and do the right thing, but we have the freedom to love and obey God or rebel. Only when we are ultimately reunited with God will suffering end.

We all need to accept that there is pain in this world

If you do not have faith, making sense of suffering is more challenging. I guess you have to reach a point of acceptance – you need to accept that this world is not fair. Innocent people get hurt. It is right to mourn when people are hurt but you cannot become consumed by pain or spend years wishing to change the past and undo past hurts. You have to accept that terrible things happen, mourn, and then move on, hoping for a better tomorrow. Sometimes we seek to make sense of tragedy by making some good come from it. Dolly’s family say their goal is to establish a trust called ‘Dolly’s Dream’ to raise awareness of bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide. On social media they have been using the hashtages #stopbullying now and #doitforDolly.

Light a candle in the darkness by doing something kind today

I guess it’s time for all of us to get out in the community and do something positive, get involved in a bit more charity work, or even just reach out to someone who could do with a hand. Too often we do not approach people who have experienced a setback or loss because we feel awkward, we don’t know what to say; we fear saying the wrong thing and making that person feel worse. I know from experience that when you are suffering any act of kindness is welcome. Do you know of a mum with young children who could use some support? Do you know an older person who may be lonely and would love you to take them on an outing? Do you know someone without family? Could you bake them a cake as a spontaneous act of kindness? Yes, there is darkness in the world, but you can light a candle in the darkness by going out and doing something kind today.

If you are experiencing a personal crisis, help is available at Lifeline on 13 11 14.