SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE:

Why is it that good people suffer sometimes while those not so good seem to have it easy?

Why does God, who is omnipotent, allow difficulties and downright tragedies to afflict some people and not others?

While no one knows the mind of God, it seems fair to say that he knows that we can grow closer to him as a result of dry periods in our lives.

Of course, this is easier to say in theory than to endure in practice.

How many people today have experienced the loss of a job, the unexpected loss of a loved one or a life-threatening illness?

While our first instinct might be to blame God for the difficulty, we would do better to step back for a moment and instead ask him for his help.

I have witnessed many families be brought closer together as they respond with a can-do attitude.

I have also seen the opposite happen. When we play the blame game and point fingers, tension builds and we are worse off than before.

Charles Swindoll holds that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.

That is, one’s attitude is crucial and could make or break a person.

This applies to everyone, “religious” or not. There are many things out of our control, but our positive attitude can help us to overcome even the most unexpected.

I do not have an answer to the question I pose above. I would point out that we often only are aware of what another person wants us to know.

Many people could be struggling or suffering and not let on to anyone their trials.

If we deal with our lives, our situation, in the present day, not worrying about tomorrow, and make a firm decision to be in charge of our attitudes, not only will we be more at peace, we will encourage others to do the same by our actions.

FATHER STEPHEN DOKTORCZYK is a priest at St. Joachim Church in Costa Mesa.