The older I get, the more suffering and pain
I’ve experienced; and the more of both I stand witness to. From my wife’s (and
many, many of our friends and coworkers) battle against breast cancer; to my
dad’s (and the parents of many of our friends and coworkers) process as he
fades away as this complex disease breaks the connections between more and more
memories, I have become not only frustrated with suffering, pain, and having to
watch both, I have been witness to the suffering and pain among the students I serve
as a school counselor. I have become angry and sometimes paralyzed. This is my
attempt to lift myself from the occasional stifling grief that darkens my days…
I can only speak personally of the encouragement I get from my Christian
faith.
But because breast cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease is a worldwide
epidemic (isn’t that what’s meant by being “pandemic”?), I am certain other
faiths respond as well with encouragement.
So, I did some research. Before I go to faith, though, let me give you
some numbers:
China: Officially there are 4 faiths in China; but between half and three
fourths of Chinese are non-religious
India: Primarily Hindu and Islam (94 percent). The other six percent encompass
Christians, Sikhs, and Buddhists and a smattering of others.
South America: More than 91 percent are Catholic, though only half of
those consider themselves devout. Roughly 5 percent are Muslims, and the
remaining four percent are a mixture of protestant, Judaism, Buddhist, Hinduism,
Bahá'í, Shinto, and indigenous creeds and rituals.
So, below please find quotes of encouragement from across the Human
spectrum.
We begin with Hindu strength:
“The essence of Hinduism is the same essence of all true religions:
Bhakti or pure love for God and genuine compassion for all beings.”
“You are what you believe in. You become that which you believe you can
become.”
“From suffering comes the knowledge of suffering. From the knowledge of
the suffering comes the solution to suffering. From the solution to suffering
comes the ultimate freedom. Suffering, therefore is the teacher and also the
cause in which the effect, liberation, is hidden.”
“Whatever happened was good. Whatever is happening is good. Whatever
will happen will also be good.”
“Your Strength is how calmly, quietly and peacefully you face life.”
Yogi Bhajan.
Comfort from the Koran:
“No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah . And whoever
believes in Allah – He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things.”
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a
loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.”
“When disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him
we will return.’ Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and
mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.”
“Allah does not charge a soul except (with that within) its capacity.”
“The word of Allah is the medicine of the heart.”
I’ve shared words of encouragement from Christianity many times, so we’ll conclude with words of hope that have no religious affiliation:
“You’re like this little blip of
light that lasts for a very brief time and you can shine as brightly as you
choose.”
“Someone said the pain would go away, but I’m not sure that’s where I
want it to go.”
“Ever since I learned we are made of the same stuff as the cosmos, I
lost my fear of death.”
“If your grief is an angry child today, try to be as gentle and patient
as you would with a child, and give them space to rage.”
“While the concepts and definitions of suffering are certainly man-made
and can vary from one person to person, I would certainly say that it is not
pointless and that it has to have some biological value. From a strictly
Darwinian sense, suffering must provide some benefit. Perhaps it strengthens or
enhances the biochemical process that involved kinship and love. This in turn
fosters behaviors like: strength in numbers (clans) and cooperation. Or could
it be that my suffering allows me to better relate to others who are suffering…”
There you go; be encouraged and share your love with those who are
suffering with you or those who suffer as well.
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