“The truth is that life is both random and on purpose, although not in equal measure.”
-Insomnia, by Stephen King

When Elizabeth Smart was first missing, I prayed for her. As the months went by, I would still pray sometimes but I often forgot about it.

One night, I started thinking about Elizabeth. It had been a long time since I had thought about her. I wondered if she was really dead, and if she wasn't, where was she? So, I prayed.

I prayed that if she were not alive, her parents could know and have closure. To bless them with peace even now, not knowing. Then I prayed for Elizabeth, that if she were alive she would be comforted and feel that God loved her. I imagined her sleeping on a dirty floor, lonely and scared. And then I imagined her being surrounded by the love of God, taking away all the hurt. And I prayed that she would come home. It was a very intense prayer, and I vividly remember it.

A few days later, Elizabeth Smart was found. I was happy and relieved and kind of amazed. I didn't think that my one prayer had brought her home, but I thought that maybe like a drop in an ocean of other people's prayers, I had helped in some small way.

It's nice to think of when you just focus on the happy ending. But when you think about all the sad endings, I really don't know what I think.

I read a Stephen King book (Insomnia) once where he says that in life there is the Random and then there is Purpose. That made sense to me. Of course, it's easier for it to make sense when your own life is good and you haven't been hit over the head with the Random.

Re-reading this, I think it is ungrateful not to recognize God's hand. He doesn't intervene all the time, He doesn't make it right every time, but we should be thankful when He does.