Who’s to say what’s insane and what’s enlightened? Where does our judgement crowd out the sacred mystery? Why do humans choose to suffer? Come with me…
suffering
Suffering. And the radiance you’ll find on the other side.
We can’t instantly LEAP from pain to joy, from suffering to radiance. There are steps—a healing sequence.
Thank you for your exquisite suffering (How to show gratitude for being saved by someone.)
How can you thank another human for that Holy showing?
Your life is beyond words.
But now that you are stronger, reach deep into the natural order of things
and with your hewn respect
thank them for their own exquisite suffering.
The upside of suffering… sort of.
You see, there is suffering in the sensitivity. It hurts to feel. And we’re raised to strive—to desensitize—and it’s killing us. I think the strength is in opening. That opening to feel is where resiliency is born.
We can’t get to the light, until we understand the suffering.
I’ve struggled for a long time with wondering if pain and suffering were essential to growth. Are they essential to me being a more expanded, clear minded, loving, joyous, sexy human being? Do I have to hurt to get there? Well, I fucking hope not… but I haven’t figured out a way around suffering yet.
Easing someone’s suffering…without suffering. Is it possible?
Do I have to feel your pain in order to help ease your pain?
And, if I guard myself against your suffering, am I less useful? If I want to detach from your pain, am I less loving? If I think, “I’m glad I’m not going through that”, am I cold hearted? If I’m grateful for my strength or good fortune in comparison to your so-called weakness or misfortune, does that make me…just secretly horrible?
May my suffering be of service.
When the suffering is almost intolerable.When you’ve had all you think you can take. When you can’t comprehend what the “gift” in the pain might be. When it’s not making any sense. When you’re asking, God, Life, WHY?
