Horrific death knows no season.  A cliche perhaps, but it is one I thought of as I read the news reports of the Taliban 's recent slaughter of 132 schoolchildren in Pakistan.  It's difficult to know where to begin in contemplating such awful pain.  We can offer comfort to the families who have lost children; solace to the families of the teachers who lost their lives while trying to defend their students; encouragement to the Pakistani government to redouble its efforts to eradicate the Taliban from the country; grief over the general immensity of the loss; or anguish over how religion has once again been grossly misused to make a point.  Whether we do any or all of these, however, we remain stunned by the scope of the event:  why?  Why must people do such things?  Why does the world breed such tragedy?
     As evangelist Billy Graham remarked in his speech about the events of September 11, 2001, in New York City, "How do we understand something like this?  Why does God allow evil like this to take place?"  Like all of us, Graham had no answers.  And like all of us, he probably never will, at least in this life.
     Yet as Graham continued, "We've seen so much that brings tears to our eyes and makes us all feel a sense of anger.  But God can be trusted, even when life seems at its darkest."
     As Graham would readily acknowledge, this is so easy to say yet so very hard to do.  In the face of such tragedy, however, it's really all we can--and should--do.  Difficult as it is, we can trust God.  Somehow, some way, he knows.  Somehow, some way, he is there. This is the Muslim's comfort, this is the Christian's solace:  God is there.
     For as this horrific rain of death makes clear, we certainly cannot trust ourselves. Pray for the schoolchildren, pray for the families enduring loss, pray for the Taliban who died. Be thankful for the goodness of God.