I was a young man in my early 20's when I went to the hospital to visit an elderly man in his 80's who was alone in the world and simply wanted to see an end to his pain and suffering. Never shall I forget the frustration and embarrassment I felt when he looked up and asked, "Why does God allow my suffering?  Why doesn't he just let me die and end all of this?"  I'm still struggling to find a completely satisfying answer to that question, but I have come to understand that the old gentlemen who asked the question has lots of company when it comes to wondering why God allows certain things.