In the wake of the fires that have burned since Sunday and are still burning, it seems appropriate that this week’s sermon is titled “Why Do Good Things Happen To Good People”. Every time a major catastrophe occurs — Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Terrorist Attacks, Fires, Gunman opening fire on a college campus — you hear people ask this question.

And I don’t think there is an answer that is going to make anyone feel good or satisfied, but we all know that bad things happen, that everyone goes through horrid experiences. Even though I’m not directly impacted by these fires — I know people who had to evacuate, but no one that lost their home — I can only imagine what it would be to lose everything, to feel safe and secure in your home, and then to have that stripped away.

So I’d like to share a song with you that I think is especially appropriate at a time like this, and also gives a glimpse of hope. It’s called “Sorrow” by Bad Religion, and you can see it performed here or you can check out the lyrics below.

Father, can you hear me?
How have I let you down?
I curse the day that I was born,
And all the sorrow in the world…

Let me take you to the herding ground,
Where all good men are trampled down,
Just to settle a bet that could not be won,
Between a prideful father and his son.

Well you guard me now for I cant see,
A reason for this suffering and this long misery.
What if every living soul could be upright and strong?
Well, then I do imagine there will be
Sorrow.
Yeah there will be
Sorrow .
And there will be
Sorrow, no more.

When all soldiers lay their weapons down,
Or when all kings and all queens relinquish their crown,
Or when the only true messiah rescues us from ourselves…
Its easy to imagine there will be
Sorrow.
Yeah there will be
Sorrow .
And there will be
Sorrow, no more.

There will be
Sorrow.
Yeah there will be
Sorrow .
And there will be
Sorrow, no more.