Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Set Free Course

Heartbreaking Photos of Ethiopian 737 Max Plane Crash Reveal One Passenger’s Poignant Book

Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images
Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images
Share Tweet
By Will Maule
Author

March 12, 2019

The spot where Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 collided with the ground looks more reminiscent of a construction zone of landfill site than the resting place of an aircraft. Such was the sheer force of impact, that barely any recognizable aviation structure remained.

Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images
BISHOFTU, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 11: Parts of an engine and landing gear lie in a pile after being gathered by workers during the continuing recovery efforts at the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 on March 11, 2019 in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.

 

Instead, personal belongings and mangled pieces of metal are strewn across the football-field-sized crash site in a scene that is nothing short of mortifying.

Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images
BISHOFTU, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 11: Personal effects lay in the open in the debris field just outside of the impact crater during the continuing recovery efforts at the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 on March 11, 2019 in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.

 

However, among the charred pieces of clothing and churned up soil, one item caught my eye — a book, nestled among the debris, titled, “Conversations With God.”

BISHOFTU, ETHIOPIA – MARCH 11: Personal effects lie in a pile just outside of the impact crater after being gathered by workers during the continuing recovery efforts at the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 on March 11, 2019 in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

The book, snapped by Getty Images photographer Jemal Countess, not only has an intriguing title but, as I discovered, contains something of a poignant message in the context of such abject tragedy.

See, the 1997 publication, “Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue,” written by author Neale Walsch, is all about having a serious, uncensored dialogue with God about the biggest questions of life such as:

Why do we suffer?
What is the point of life?
Why does God allow terrible things to happen?

As a description for the book reads, “Conversations With God” was penned after Walsch experienced a “low period” in his life and desired to “vent some frustrations” at the situation he found himself in. In the early 1990s, having worked in several different jobs, Walsch suffered some absolutely crippling blows in a story reminiscent of the Biblical character, Job.

It all started with a fire that destroyed all of his belongings. Then came the break-up of his marriage, and, finally, a brutal car accident left him with a broken neck. Rendered homeless and jobless, and living in a tent, Walsch really thought this was it — his life was over. So, he began to write and started to reveal the depths of his heartache to the Lord. Out of this time came the best-selling “Conversations With God” series, which has helped millions come to terms with the complex existential questions that plague so many of us.

Trusting when there are no answers

Of course, we are all filled with questions. Questions over the state of our own personal lives, and questions surrounding the suffering, turmoil, and death that we see all around us. Unfortunately, even as Christians who may know the Lord in an intimate way, it is important to understand that there will be times when questions will remain unanswered.

Indeed, while an investigation into the reasons behind Flight 302 crashing to the ground will no doubt unearth some technical answers, for the families of the victims, the deeper question of “Why?” may remain with them for the rest of their days.

‘Deep Loss’: Lutheran Minister Among Those Killed in Ethiopian Airline Crash

However, though excruciatingly difficult at times like these, we can also trust that Almighty God, in all His sovereign knowledge, retains all the answers to our deepest, grief-laden questions. When we are unable to fathom any sense of meaning resulting from such brutal loss, this may grant us some level of solace.

One day it will all make sense

Indeed, our hope is that one day, He will reveal these great mysteries to us in glorious splendor with the second coming of our Lord Jesus. As the name suggests, the Book of Revelation attests that, in the end, all will be revealed and no question will remain unanswered.

On that day, the Bible tells us, there will be no sorrow, no pain and no more confusion over earthly trials and tears — this can be our hope in times of senseless tragedy.

But for now? We pray. We pray that the truth found in Jesus may be a comfort and a healing balm to all those who are grieving the loss of loved ones in this awful plane crash.

Parler

Latest

  • News

    Kanye West Replacing John Crist at Christian Youth Conference

  • Faith

    Minnesota Couple ‘Pass Into Eternal Life’ One Day Apart from Each Other

  • News

    Love Is Love? Media Glamorizes ‘Polyamorous’ Relationship of One Woman, Four Guys

  • Culture

    ‘I Know God Is Good’: Girl Born Without Hands and Abandoned By Her ‘Ashamed’ Mother at Age 3 Pens Powerful Essay

  • Family

    WATCH: 5-Year-Old Boy Invites Entire Kindergarten Class to Witness His Legal Adoption


Sponsored Sidebar Default (2)

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?


Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement