The last few weeks I have been Making known God’s Goodness. So many times we focus on all of the tragedies and things that are not going right in our life, and fail to remember the good things. This was a forward sent to me, and I thought it was well worth repeating. God’s goodness is there for those who choose to see it, and receive it!
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
“I don’t believe that God exists.”“Why do you say that?” asked the customer. “Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist.
Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.” The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:
“You know what? Barbers do not exist.” “How can you say that?” asked the surprised barber. “I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!”
“No!” the customer exclaimed. “Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.”“Ah, but barbers DO exist! That’s what happens when people do not come to me.” “Exactly!” affirmed the customer. “That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist! That’s what happens when people do not go to Him and don’t look to Him for help. That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.”
If suffering makes people believe God doesn’t exist then we need to shout God’s goodness, so others see that He does! Are we guilty of rehearsing our pain and suffering, or the goodness of God?
This is from My Aunt Cathy who could not seem to get it to post her comment. Thanks Aunt Cathy:
This poem was on a friend’s My Space and is probably a forward also, but I thought it went along with your post today.
He was just a little boy, on a week’s first day. Wandering home from Sunday School, and dawdling on the way.
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He scuffed his shoes into the grass; he even found a caterpillar. He found a fluffy milkweed pod, and blew out all the “filler.”
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A bird’s nest in a tree overhead, so wisely placed up high. Was just another wonder, that caught his eager eye.
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A neighbor watched his zig zag course, and hailed him from the lawn; Asked him where he’d been that day and what was going on.
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“I’ve been to Bible School,” he said and turned a piece of sod. He picked up a wiggly worm replying, “I’ve learned a lot about God.”
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“M’m very fine way,” the neighbor said, “for a boy to spend his time.” “If you’ll tell me where God is, I’ll give you a brand new dime.”
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Quick as a flash the answer came! Nor were his accents faint. “I’ll give you a dollar, Mister, if you can tell me where God ain’t.” 🙂
author Unknown
I love this story. It nails it right onto the point.
Oh, this was great. Seriously. Perfect timing…..