Suffering Part 2
I read some thought-provoking words the other day in a magazine. I thought they were worth repeating because i think they relate and conclude my last entry.

We Americans like to think of justice and equality and are upset and offended if we have to suffer any abuse for another. We do not like suffering at all, for any reason and in fact are surprised wen something less than optimum happens to us. Yet Christ did exactly that and yet i, as a Christian still complain. The quote bellow sums it up.

"Some therefore suffer for their sins, while others suffer for the sins of others, The former is suffering of cleansing, the latter is substitutionary suffering. Both are redemptive, and both can be accepted with grace."

The fact we should handle the abuses and suffering with grace is a counter-culture thing which i often fight. More often i will take my cup of suffering and then expect some sort of reward in return when in fact possibly I am meant to be absorbing the suffering as part of one, my own maturity and two, as redemption for someone else. Now, lest you read this and think i am considering myself saviorific stop it! What i mean is that any act of suffering can show, point to and demonstrate love...on a humanitarian level and as a poor reflection of God.

"The trials that keep us kneeling before our lifelong assignments are never haphazard. All the sufferings that are thrust upon us can serve to bring us to maturity. Hurt is the essential ingredient of ultimate Christ-likeness."

The second quote i thought was directly connected in that the trails or as some like to say, 'opportunities' are just that. We can choose how to respond when junk happens to us. The choose is ours. To forgive or not, to take abuse and show love in return , or not. To suffer pain and heartache not because we are anxious to die but because maybe , just maybe we will understand Jesus a little better.


So, enjoy the ride friends, brothers and sisters. This life is much bigger than you and me and don't you forget it.