Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Pain and Suffering

  I'm doing this one now, I feel the need to for some reason. I don't have all the answers and I still honestly have questions myself, but I try and learn.

  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that pain and suffering  are everywhere. Some people handle pain and suffering well while others not so well, and that is normal. We all have weaknesses and we are all different. Having said that, so is pain. There is the pain that is limited, we know it will not last forever. Like when we smash a finger, have dental work done, break bones even. Even those pains we know will pass, though they seem forever at times. Deep down though, we know we will bet better.  I think most people have experienced this kind of pain.Then there is pain that will last our lifetime. Pain that is called chronic. Pain that seems to never end. Pain that requires medications and help from those that are trained to administer something to easy the pain. Pain that seems like endless suffering, but it's not. I have seen and still see both.

   Here is what I think in my heart. Some can relate to this and some will have to work to relate to this, but it is the only way I know how. I noticed while I was working in my garden the weeds. The garden is God and me time, no I don't hear voices in my head, lol. But if we listen I think we hear through our soul and in our hearts. Perhaps the Be Still and know that God is God applies here.

  So I looked at the weeds which I go nuts over. Perhaps that is what we are when we experience constant pain, weeds. Though weeds seem of little to no use, they all have uses. Be it ground cover for the soil to stop erosion, enriching the soil, and most weeds have medicinal uses while some can be eaten. Weeds are the strongest plant in the garden, yet the less cherished. Some weeds bloom in fields to feed the bees and display beauty. Funny, the weeds are a big part of nature and their uses are for everything but themselves while being frowned upon by those that did not know them.

  The plants I chose to grow I fed them. I watered them. I nurtured them. I babied them. The weeds I pulled them out. Walked on them. Tilled them up. I didn't feed or water them, yet they grew. Through all the abuse they continued to grown and if allowed some can take over the plants who have been so nurtured. A big rain or high wind and the plants I have taken so much care of can be killed. No water and they will die. But the weeds, they thrive. They thrive no matter how much abuse they get.

  I think people are like that. Have you ever noticed that the people who have seldom if ever been sick are so prideful? Most cannot relate to pain or the pain people feel. I'm sure you know of a few. Maybe you work with them or related to one, maybe you are one. Most I know have little tolerance or compassion for someone that is hurting. Some will have learned some, but most don't. I few learn sympathy, but they can never have empathy, not true empathy. Like the plants that I plant and work with, the first sign of adversity and they fall. Some get up while others just lay there. They usually have less mercy and scream justice more often. There are a few, just as in the garden though, through the association of a loved one that learns some sympathy and understanding. They see the pain and suffering of another and have the ability to exercise compassion. This is a gift and one they have maintained.

  But the ones that suffer are usually tough, like the weed. They endure when all others fail, even though the going is tough. They are dependent in many ways of mercy from others. What some would call a bad day they call a good day, for the have endured so much worse, and so they are grateful. The are grateful just to be. They have compassion and empathy, if their hearts have not become hardened. They know grace and mercy, though it isn't shown a lot through the others and the drops from Heaven seem few and far apart sometimes. Some weeds do get hard though and the journey is wrong, just as wrong as the nurtured plants that have no hearts other than for themselves. But in all the garden, weeds have a special ability to drawn closer to God. For while all the plants in the garden know they depend on God, the weeds have lost their independence and feel the dependence on God more deeply.

   I can only assume what and why that bad things fall on certain people. While I really have no idea other than if this physical life was meant to be great, why then would we need Heaven. I can only say what I have learned and my perspectives on why. Through sickness I have become more sympathetic to others. I have earned empathy for another. I have learned Mercy and have saw Grace. I have learned humility and dependency. I have lost my pride in many ways. My heart has become soft once again. I have learned to be thankful for the little things, the things I often over looked before, the people I overlooked before as well. Most of all though I have leaned to Be Still. To Be Still and know that God is God. I have leaned that I have a purpose, maybe not the same purpose but a purpose all the same. I have learned that I never stand alone and when the bad comes to get back up, for I never stand alone. I have learned that it is not my strength alone. Would I have chosen this path? No. Am I glad God chose this path? Yes, but someways no. Then again, if this is what it takes to prove my worth to God and increase my chances of going to Heaven, then I will go this path for as long as I am allowed.

  I look back at who I was and who I am becoming, and I see nothing I want to look at for long. I thought I was strong back then, but it was a deception. I can say now that even until my last breath that I am stronger now spiritually than I have ever been. I can also say that I have a long ways to go yet. One thing I heard someone say that got me. A preacher on the radio was talking and he said be careful what you say to God, He is listening. Some say God use me for your Glory or use me how you see fit. Well, what if pain and suffering is how He sees fit? I sure you, this is no glorious ride.

  Pain and suffering brings us to a crossroads, actually all of life does just that, pain and suffering are just quicker. We can choose to grow from it and know that God is God and completely in charge. That don't make it hurt less though. Through this however we get back up each day and give thanks for what we have left physically and what we now have grow spiritually. Or, we can turn away from God and be bitter for what we have physically lost and miss what could be growing and what is left of us physically. Perhaps through our pain and suffering someone will be able to draw closer to God, closer to all that is good.

Now here is a little that says a lot. It's not all but some of the scriptures,

2 Peter 2:
19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
 20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Matthew 19: 
 13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
 14But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
 15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

Romans 8:
 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

1 Corinthians
 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
 16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 12
25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
 26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

2 Corinthians 6:
 6By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
 7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

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