Another view on suffering
Submitted by Ford Prefect on March 13 2000 19:12:38
In reply to Bad theology - bad end submitted by Forgiven on March 13 2000 17:09:58
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Thanks to Dirk Gently, I've recently come in contact with the thoughts of Henri Nouwen. A passage I've been thinking about every day since I first read it presents this view on suffering: "Real healing comes from realizing that your own particular pain is a share in humanity's pain. That realization allows you to forgive your enemies and enter into a truly compassionate life. That is the way of Jesus, who prayed on the cross: 'Father forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.' (Luke 23:34). Jesus' suffering, concrete as it was, was the suffering of all humanity. His pain was the pain. Every time you shift your attention away from the external situation that caused your pain and focus on the pain of humanity in which you participate, your suffering becomes easier to bear. It becomes a 'light burden' and an 'easy yoke' (Matthew 11:30). Once you discover that you are called to live in solidarity with the hungry, the homeless, the prisoners, the refugees, the sick, and the dying, your very personal pain begins to be converted into the pain and you find new strength to live it. Herein lies the hope of all Christians." |
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