Why?

This weekend I received the news from back in Toledo that my 86 year old mother's health is failing badly. Like most people who advance to such an age, she needs constant care which is quickly leading her to discouragement to the point of giving up. She has lost all meaning for her life and has gone downhill in strength rapidly over a short period of time. Quickly I made arrangements to fly back to Ohio to spend the next two weeks spilling the family off in their round-the-clock care for her.

It's inevitable to ask at such a time as this: Why? Why does such a giving, caring, people-oriented, kind-hearted person like my mother have to go through this? Why?

Is there a bigger question than why? It overshadows all the other questions of who, what, where, when, and how. Knowing how it happened is fascinating, but knowing why it happened is essential. You can live without knowing how it happened, but when you can't figure out why, it's absolutely maddening.

Why are we here?
Why is there evil in the world?
Why is there so much suffering?
Why would God allow this to happen?
Why don't we change?
Why don't we do something about it?
Why does it matter?

Searching for meaning is like breathing...and when you lose all hope for meaning...you stop breathing.

Why is the question that haunts us.