Like many American’s the day after the bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I am lamenting the tragedy of over 7 dead and 80 injured at the hand of a collapsed human structure. Like most people, I’ve gone through the typical questions: Why did this happen? Why did God allow that bridge to break? What is God trying to do through this situation?

But then I was sitting down to an episode of Scrubs (which was a repeat btw) and the perfect dialogue exchange occurred, providing clarity and dose of sanity. After Dr. Cox laments (read: complains) about some life circumstances, Laverne responds with some typical bumper sticker theology:

Laverne: Does it help to know that Jesus loves you?
Dr. Cox: [Nodding] It does not.
Laverne: Well, everything happens for a reason.
Dr. Cox: Are you really trying to tell me that things like, New Orleans, AIDS, sugar free ice cream, crack babies, Hugh Jackman, and cancer all happen for a reason? Because I’m sorry, I’m-I’m just not buying that.
Laverne: “God works all things for good” that’s Romans 8:28.
Dr. Cox: Bull Honky

Amen and Amen! I agree with Dr. Cox: that’s bull.

In the midst of tragedy, we don’t need to invoke Romans 8 and try and define the situation. Most of the time the only thing we can do in the chaos of life is to lean into it with lament, sorrow, and…GRIEF.

Grief is good, it is OK, it is human, it is earthy, it is authentic.

Jesus grieved when his good friend Lazarus died. When he stepped into the chaos of the moment, the Scriptures say his soul was overwhelmed and he wept. He didn’t have words for Mary and the other friends. No, instead of cute little ditties, tears were shed and groanings moaned. Jesus was so overcome deep down in his human self that his only response was to join in with Lazarus’ community and authentically express gritty human emotion. Yes, Jesus lifted up that grief to His father and brought the fullness of Yahweh’s power to rest on the moment through Lazarus’ resurrection, but before that he was present in the fullness of his human-ness.

May we simply join in with the Minnesota community and grieve. May we express gritty, earthy, human emotion and weep. May we simply be present, as a human, and leave the bumper sticker theology for another day.

-jeremy