"God never promised it would be an easy life, but
it's a beautiful life.." Father Corkery said as I shook his hand outside
of church. That quote stuck with me. I've been thinking about it ever since he
said it. Where did I get the idea that life was supposed to be easy? Should I just be thankful for having a life
at all? Where does the suffering fit in?
Is a beautiful life an easy life? Is a hard life not beautiful?
Newtons law states that, "for every action, there is
an equal and opposite reaction". I wonder if thats true for suffering.
Could it be that our lives are perfectly balanced on a pendulum that oscillates
between joy and pain? Maybe, each person
is born with so many tears to be cried during their lifetime, and an equal
number of laughs to be had. Although, it often seems that some people suffer
inordinately more than others, does that mean that there is some divine
retribution for them on the other side?
What does suffering do for a soul? Perhaps it provides us with an opportunity to
grow. The lessons are many, faith, humility, generosity, courage, grace,
wisdom, or whatever the soul needs to learn.
There are so many lessons and gifts to be received through our own
personal pain.
Pain must be an important part of life. We are all born
from our mothers physical pain. Jesus suffered great spiritual, and physical
pain as part of his human experience. The fact is that pain is just part of
life, and it will be a part of each one of us, in one form or another, until
the day we die. We get to choose how we will allow the pain to impact our life.
So, it's not about living a life with no pain, it's about living a beautiful life in spite of pain. When we find a way to use our pain for good, it inspires others to do the same. How inspirational is the story of Charlene Richard, for one example. As a 13 year old child, dying of cancer, she was able to offer up her pain for others, to ease their suffering. If she can do it, I can do it. Maybe the reward comes not just in heaven, but also here on earth, when you find a purpose for your pain, and a reason to keep living through it.
T.Rodney
11/8/10