I like the idea of responding to suffering being more important than explaining suffering.
That said, it’s interesting that a lot of what we’re discussing is not actually the personal experience of suffering but the social problem of survivors’ guilt.
I have done some pretty intense physical suffering in my life. And during a particularly bad stretch, I did get to asking why. Because I was the one suffering, I was allowed to stumble across an answer about the use of my suffering and accept it on its own terms.
It’s different when someone else suffers. It feels less fair to accept an explanation when we are not the ones feeling the greatest pain. That seems to be a lot of where the philosophy comes from—observers of suffering refusing understanding or comfort because it’s not their place when it’s not their price.
Jesus suffers with us. Jesus promises to heal us in the end. Followers of Jesus can strive to offer presence and healing in the face of suffering. We’re agreed on those things.
But I hope we don’t go too far in telling people how to think about their suffering when it happens. An individual who suffers ought to have some space to find it meaningful or to see God using it.
I personally am grateful to live in a universe with the possibility of suffering and the vulnerability that comes with it. It’s complicated to say that in the face of all the tragedies in the world, but it’s still true of me.
I like the idea of responding to suffering being more important than explaining suffering.
That said, it’s interesting that a lot of what we’re discussing is not actually the personal experience of suffering but the social problem of survivors’ guilt.
I have done some pretty intense physical suffering in my life. And during a particularly bad stretch, I did get to asking why. Because I was the one suffering, I was allowed to stumble across an answer about the use of my suffering and accept it on its own terms.
It’s different when someone else suffers. It feels less fair to accept an explanation when we are not the ones feeling the greatest pain. That seems to be a lot of where the philosophy comes from—observers of suffering refusing understanding or comfort because it’s not their place when it’s not their price.
Jesus suffers with us. Jesus promises to heal us in the end. Followers of Jesus can strive to offer presence and healing in the face of suffering. We’re agreed on those things.
But I hope we don’t go too far in telling people how to think about their suffering when it happens. An individual who suffers ought to have some space to find it meaningful or to see God using it.
I personally am grateful to live in a universe with the possibility of suffering and the vulnerability that comes with it. It’s complicated to say that in the face of all the tragedies in the world, but it’s still true of me.
Working on my ability to be with suffering. “Turn me not away.”