But unless you repent

The story of Job

was written to show how the innocent suffer.

We ignore it, preferring to believe

that people get the treatment they deserve;

or at least that they should.

The poor are made to struggle

because it's their own fault;

they are lazy and lack our virtues.

The wealthy, on the other hand must be deserving.

The Almighty, we like to assert,

rewards the righteous

and punishes those who are not.

It's a convenient shorthand

that allows us to pass safe judgement

upon our fellow mortals.

Forget Job,

and Jesus, for that matter;

for neither will permit us to indulge the smug comfort

of dismissing the unworthy.

Jesus, in particular,

tells us to stop looking at other people;

and to take a good hard look

at ourselves.

We never asked for that.

© Ken Rookes 2016