Alex & Rodolfo

Although I'm about 150 miles and 12 hours away from Hurricane Alex, its fury and power are already felt in the darkness of our mid-day and heavy rain in our backyard. As a family, we pray for those who will face Alex directly in the next few hours. God's grace and mercy over families, cities and entire communities. I love people, I despise seeing suffering among God's creation. But this time, Alex's effects are closer to my heart since it will land a couple of hundred miles north of my home-town. This is the place where I was born and raised up to age 17. My heart and deepest of desires for protection, love, care and provision from our Heavenly Father today in my beautiful state of Tamaulitpas.

It has been only two days since the inconceivable assassination of State Government Candidate-Rodolfo Torre Cantú, thus one of the most horrific organize crime experiences the state of Tamaulipas has ever encountered. After watching our Mexican government gradually fall into pieces, and our communities-like never before-seek the leadership that will actually fulfill Tamaulipas original purpose of existence and create the future everyone knows our State already has within; I can't help but think about the paradoxical and ironic differences/similarities of suffering between Alex and Rodolfo.

Alex simply reminds me that Jesus never promised for His creation and children to be immune from suffering. Jesus only promised to be with us every single moment...until the end of the age. He assured His people and us that if we remain in Him, we will never face suffering alone. He will carry us through the storm, even if it turns to be a category 5. Alex is one of those experiences in life where we simply trust - like we are always commanded to do - on the God whose sovereignty knows best for us; maybe not necessarily creating it for us but maybe simply allowing it in us. Unfortunately, only 5%-10% of our suffering comes from this scenario and context, where God's permissiveness comes into play.

In reality 90% of our suffering today in Tamaulipas comes from what I call: "Self-Inflicted Pain." Its source: Greed, Sin, Corruption, Darkness, Evil, Lust, Envy and Godlessness among us. Rodolfo's murder exemplifies this 90% of unnecessary suffering today. Suffering that humanity will never, since we are created in the image of God, get use to. Morality tells us "this is wrong - it must stop NOW." Psalm 108:12-13 says "Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."  Albert Einstein said: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results." How can we expect for our current government, who either allows or creates this kind of inhuman experiences, to fix or terminate our present condition? The problem is not our government but the lack of God's presence on it. Mexico has a bunch of leaders with authority but no leaders under authority. God help us!!!

Could it be possible that maybe, just maybe, we have been asking the wrong question as we eagerly strive to find the ONE answer that will finally deliver us from our current condition? When we ignore the distinction between Alex's suffering (10 % that God allows or creates) and Rodolfo's suffering (90% self-inflicted pain), our tendency will be to ask ourselves: "Why is this happening to our country." I honestly feel that is the wrong question!! If Psalm 106:6 is true "We have sinned, even as our fathers did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly," then the right question maybe: "Why did it take so long for God to call our attention back to Him?"

Corporate (Nation) repentance is the first step towards honoring the lives of those who have died unnecessarily (90% suffering) and move towards the One answer Mexico needs. Organize crime will not stop when we unplug from evil, sin, greed and corrupt leadership; but when we plug-in to the God of the Bible. If faith (faithfulness to God) is the requirement to connect with God as a Nation, then our present and demoralizing condition is the perfect scenario to prove our seriousness and desperation: not for change in our circumstances, but for God. Faith is easier to be expressed and experienced when there's nothing left, when all hope is gone and even our desire to live and continue vanishes like vapor.

King David gives us the steps to follow as we live life on the unresolved tension of loving and mourning at the same time: Psalm 103:6 "The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed."