long ways, did you happen to read or hear about the recent article about how new yorkers came in dead last for happiness in a ranking of US states. i love new york (my mom is from there originally) but i doubt i could live there as it's just too stressful. being in such a stressful city may be coloring your vision a bit to give you a really negative view of people in general. the media sure doesn't help either as we just hear about all the bad things happening. there still are people out there who are caring and kind but i know sometimes it sure doesn't seem like it. i wonder if getting involved in some sort of volunteer organization on something you care deeply about might help as then you'd be meeting some of these other folks who are more similar to you.

you're asking really important questions about life and i think that is cool. why there is so much suffering is definitely a tough question and one i think many of us struggle with. the little bit i think maybe i've been able to figure out as a person of faith is because love requires free will. if God forced us to do everything right then that wouldn't result in a relationship with God that is based on love. love requires freedom and unfortunately that means lots and lots of screw ups on all our parts as humans. obviously, some mistakes are much worse than others though.

also, i think God expects us to be the answer to a lot of the world's problems. with God's help though. i don't think it's all on us or all on God. i think God wants to work thru us as it's about relationships - the stuff of life - and a lot of the time we just aren't cooperating. i really don't think God is too impressed with the US and how many of us are just living to make a pile of money and pursue a comfortable life and largely ignoring the needs of the rest of the 2/3s world. i think God gives us all we have here in the West in order to help others--not to squander it on ourselves as is so second nature to us. i'll be honest though that i'm still just waking up to all this myself and trying to work with God where i believe i'm to do my part. i can't do it on my own though. i do know that. i think it's in relationship with God and others. you know, love God and love others. it starts with God though. i don't have the answers and i don't know what people need, but as i stay close to God i can help others as i listen to the still, small voice of love.

that's my perspective. hopefully, something i said helps a bit.