The article talks about the Pope's teaching - with his writing, speaking and his life; about the redemptive power of suffering.
"In the pope's 1984 treatise on the redemptive power of suffering, "Salvifici Doloris," he argued that suffering is not punishment for a crime or a sin. As Job understood, as Isaiah preached in the Old Testament, and as Christ taught in the Gospels and in his life, suffering is merely part of the human condition—and can best be answered with love. "Suffering seems to belong to man's transcendence," wrote John Paul. "It is one of those points in which man is in a certain sense 'destined' to go beyond himself."
How do we begin to understand what it means to transcend ourselves? A good place to start is with the concept of compassion or feeling for others.
In a Christian viewpoint we use the suffering of Christ on the cross, an innocent who died for our sins, to represent infinite compassion.
Representing something and touching, feeling, "knowing" it are not the same. I saw an advertisement for a Porsche Boxter that shows a view of that Porsche roadster in the rear view mirror of someone's car. The ad line says, "Imagining what it might be like is a poor substitute for knowing."
So what?
I can only imagine what it would be like to be crucified, tortured, to be terminally ill, to be alone, to be cold and homeless...or any other of a thousand ways of imagining what I perceive to be real suffering.
On the other hand we can "know" what suffering is, in fact we will know regardless of any decision we make, because we are human beings, we know what real suffering is.
Even in the most perfect human existence things are temporary which causes us to suffer for their loss. The flower fades...children grow up, parents grow old, spouses, friends and family age and eventually leave us. No matter what we do, no matter how much money or possessions we acquire there is no escaping the fact that what we love will be lost.
There is plenty of suffering to go around. No one is exempt. So what can we do?
We can learn ways to use our suffering for redemptive purposes. To grow spiritually, in love, and with feelings of compassion for all living things. There is much to be learned from knowing "all is suffering" and therefore becoming more compassionate and moving toward enlightenment. I depart company from the Buddhist teachings on this point in that I can't agree that detachment from this world is the mark of ultimate enlightenment. There are times when to move outside ourselves, to try to lose our ego if only for a moment is certainly valuable. I propose that we need to attach to this world rather than detach from it to both fully make use of our God given gifts and to understand at some level the suffering (and thereby gain compassion) of all living things.
Rather than detachment we need to see more attachment. Thoughtful and compassionate people who help build hospitals, shelters, homes, visit the sick, imprisoned and elderly or any number of ways people share their gifts. To care for those who cannot care for themselves is the mark not only of an advanced philosophy or religion but of a society in general. How well do we care for those who are unable to care for themselves?
In my case I know I can do a lot better. I'm at a point in life where I see a need to try and give something back. So very thankful for this time I have had. I will be looking for ways to pay the rent for this time I have spent on earth.
'Service is the rent we pay for our place on earth...'
"For many years I have believed that the only real and lasting happiness we get is from unselfish service – whether that service be to one's family – to one's friends – to one's community or to one's country. It has been said, ‘Service is the rent we pay for our place on earth,' ...and I am convinced now that in paying that so-called rent we are amply repaid for our service in happiness and pleasant memories that linger for many years."
Nat Goldsmith (1889-1963)
Source Area Foundation - History
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On this Sunday I wish you peace and more specifically the good fortune to be able to take a nice deep breath and enjoy all the beautiful things around you...and the ability to take your compassion and unique gifts into the world to share with others.
We are indeed "all in this together." That is cause for hope.
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After I wrote this I thought this isn't really that complicated. I tend to lean towards words sometimes in lieu of action.
One time a person said to me about a woman he cared for -
"She has a good heart."
That's it.
Being good hearted, open hearted; comes naturally to some people (I've been lucky to know quite a few of those people) for others,like me, it takes practice.
