Suffering

My friend, Ronnie, blogged about suffering yesterday.  Acutally, he blogged yesterday about suffering.  I don't know that he has any specific opinion about suffering yesterday in particular.  Never mind.

I agree with him.  I think.  He uses pretty big words sometimes.  Basically Ronnie points out that we all suffer.  Suffering is universal. You are not alone.  This is not easy.

All true.  I’m taking it one step further.  I wouldn’t want to live in a world without suffering.  It is the suffering that shapes us.  It is the suffering that knocks off the hard, annoying edges.  It is the suffering that makes us more compassionate, more open and willing to step outside ourselves.  I’ve seen it over and over – in my life and in others.  Suffering adds depth to a person’s character.

Ronnie says life is hard work.

I say it’s the hard work that makes life worthwhile.

Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan in A League of Their Own says, “It’s supposed to be hard! If it wasn’t’ hard, everyone would do it.  It’s the hard that makes it great.”

It’s the hard that makes it great.

Comments

[Ronnie]

Hey allright! Look at me inspiring you! Seriously though, you make a great point. It's not just about sitting around go "Woe is me. Woe is you? Woe are we." Suffering has its causes and its effects. We are a part of the world, not just its hapless victims.

[sF]

i think what Ronnie's talking about is sacrifice, mixed in with suffering. wanting something isn't suffering. suffering is "feel(ing) pain or distress, sustain(ing) loss, injury, harm or punishment". suffering provides you the direction to a new destination in your life. death, disaster, sickness, failed relationships: they present us with choices we must invariably make. we must take that next step. it has been chosen for us.

sacrifice is wanting that good breath, quitting smoking or sending kids to a good school and having to do something to get it. the "Forfetiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim". i choose to take that step, if i wish. i have control over my destination. if i want something, i'll sacrifice something else to do it. if i want to live in KC and kiss my girl goodnight with my good breath, i have to sacrifice my relationship with my daughter (to an extent) to do it. unfortunately, i also suffer in my daughter's absence.

my pants don't fit right either, but eating all that food i was by no means suffering:)

"if it took those years to get me here, i'd do it again for you" -Maria McKee

[Ronnie]

Neat!
Great example and right on target. Choices, sacrafices, needs, suffering. I'll make Socialist Buddhists out of you all! And not the lame kind either. The hard-drinkin' Kerouac kind!

AND, there's still two more Noble Truths to go! Visit my blog! Visit my blog!

[Ronnie]

Uh...you just posted that same thing again. I mean, it's still good and all. Just much less original the second time.