Why Do Fireflies Die So Soon?

 

Recently, Grig, his brother, and I watched a very sad movie called Grave of the Fireflies.  It is a Japanese animation about two Japanese children during World War 2.  It is very well done movie (though much better subbed than dubbed), but it is depressing as all get out.  Basically, it shows you what happens to the innocent when others are waging war.  It is about a boy, around twelve or so, and his sister who is about four.  Their mother is killed early on in the movie, and though they are taken in by relatives for a time, they end up on their own.  There is one especially poignant scene where the four-year-old is burying some fireflies, and asks the question, "Why do fireflies die so soon?"

This becomes the theme for the entire movie.  Why is it fair that those who shine so brightly are usually the ones who are extinguished the quickest?

When I worked at the zoo, good kind people would often bring us baby birds that they had 'rescued.'  Usually, they found them in their yards, and seeing no sign of parents, they would pick them up bring them to us.  They would ask us to take care of them, and leave satisfied that they had done a wonderful thing.

Here's the deal though:  Ninety percent of those birds died.

Here's the secret.  Usually when you find a small fledgling on the ground, leave it alone.  The parents are around and they will take care of it.  Or, another animal will eat it and it will have a quick death.  Both of those options are much better than slow starvation at the hands of humans.  There are very few people who can successfully raise a baby bird into an adult.  It requires a lot of time and knowledge.  You need to feed a baby bird every two hours, and you need to feed it the right diet.  You can't feed a baby waxwing bugs.  They eat berries.  Unless you know that, your attempts, though well-intentioned, are futile.  Like those people, who thought they were doing a wonderful thing, how often do we do well-intentioned things that bring sorrow on others.

One of the things I really like about Grave of the Fireflies is that it is Japanese.  During World War 2, we (Americans) were the ones bombing their homes.  In fighting that war, we felt that we were doing what was right, and I still believe that we were.  Otherwise, a lot of other innocent people (Holocaust, anyone?) would have continued to die.  However, in the process, a lot of innocent people who believed that what they were doing was also right were killed by us.

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?  Why do children suffer when those who cause wars often seem to get off scot-free?

In the Book of Mormon, (Alma 14:11) there is a scene where some very wicked men are burning women and children.  The prophet at the time is being held captive by these wicked men and forced to watch.  His companion desires to use the power of God to save the innocent.  The prophet makes the following reply:

"The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth my hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgements which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day."

The Lord loves all his children, even those that do wickedly.  However, he is a just God.  He can't righteously judge unless they commit sin.  The greatest and most terrible gift God has given mankind if the gift of choice.  God allows us to choose, because then he can justly give us the consequences of our actions.  If we choose good, we are blessed.  If we choose evil, we choose punishment.  

How much sense would it make if you had a child, and before you let them decide something, you gave them a treat and said, "I knew you were going to choose a good thing, so don't bother choosing.  Here's your reward,"?  Or, in the same situation, before your child could act you tell them, "Sorry, I know you were going to choose the wrong thing, so you don't get any treats for a week,"?  Wouldn't the child protest, "But I didn't do anything?"  I know I would.  

Has anyone seen the movie Minority Report?  There are some parts of that movie I don't like, but I really appreciate the main premise.  The storyline is that in the future, the society is built off of stopping crime before it happens.  There are three psychics who can see when someone is about to commit a crime.  Before they can commit it, the police show up and arrest them.  The main character is told he is going to murder someone he's never met, and the police are chasing him.  During the movie, he's trying to find out why he would murder someone he's never met, and if he can choose a different fate.  If someone hasn't committed a crime, how can we punish them?  How do we learn if we're not allowed to choose?

However, sometimes bad things happen and it's no one's fault.  Someone gets sick and dies.  There's an accidental car crash.  Natural disasters occur.  Why do those things happen?  Let me send you to another of my favorite scriptures.  It's in the Bible.  1 Peter 4:12-13:

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

Christ suffered everything for us.  Yet, should we expect to partake in his glory without feeling something of what he went through?  Trials are not meant to punish us, but to help us grow.  As we suffer, we can more fully understand what Christ went through.  As we come to know, love, and depend on his grace, we more fully become like him.  Then, when we endure well, we are able to partake of his glory.  

Why do fireflies die so soon?  So they can return in a blaze of glory to our Father in Heaven where He is waiting to welcome them with open arms.  This life is temporary.  If we choose well, we will have peace for the rest of eternity.  Isn't that worth a few trials?