The Death of Innocence

Why does God let the young die?

I know of a young lady that lost God when she lost her young cousin during high school in a violent car crash that killed all but the driver of the car.  She wanted nothing to do with a God that would allow that.  But is this true?  Did God allow it to happen? 

Her cousin made the decision to get in the car.  He had the right to say slow down, or to get out.  The road was icy, the car too fast.  God helps those that help themselves.  God gives us all the tools we need.  He opted to not utilize them.  It is easier to blame God than to speak ill of the dead.

But, then, maybe it was all in the greater plan.  I see a lot of her cousin in her son.  It seems odd to say, but maybe her cousin has returned, in spirit, to work through her son and bring back her faith.  In some plan maybe it was his destiny to become an angel of God.  Maybe her son is destined to do great things that require her strength of faith.

I certainly hope so.  She loved her cousin dearly, and is a loving and caring mother.  My greatest wish is that she finds her way back to a path of faith.

This leaves the question of children too young to utilize the tools God has endowed them with.  What of these babies?  Was this God's will?  I suppose this is why I believe in reincarnation.  I would like to think it is in God's plan that these children leave this life for a greater role in another.

I always imagined that in the battle between good and evil there are foot soldiers.  The good would die young because God needed the best of us on the front line of a battle we cannot even fathom.  Babies are, after all, brought into this world without sin.  I would see the souls of these babies as young adults in shining armor, wings outstretched, sword raised in defiance of all that is evil.  When they finish the battle, maybe they get another chance at a physical existence here.  Maybe this is R&R for the battle weary. Very Hollywood.

What's the alternative?  They die for nothing?  A cruel joke played by a cruel God to teach us some cruel lesson? 

Not my God.