YOUR GOLDEN YEARS AND SANTA CLAUS
A sample from the book explaining how adversity can give you pain and suffering:
Suffering is caused by adversity and pain.
The Book of Job, one of the wisdom books of the Bible, deals with the problem of human suffering, which is crucial to every person. With the tragic loss of seven sons and three daughters, as well as all his wealth, Job began to question God’s punishment for his righteousness. His enlightenment finally came when he realized that even though God as the Creator had the right to do whatever He pleased, his suffering was not punishment—his pain was the pain of the surgeon’s scalpel, rather than the pain of the executioner’s whip. In other words, God had inflicted suffering to refine his righteousness, to remove his pride, and to trust God.
Understanding that human suffering is only a part of life, however, does not make it easier to embrace it when you are in the midst of the deepest, darkest trials of life. Like Job, you may feel despair and unfairness. But hang on to the wisdom of Job: suffering is an opportunity for spiritual growth, and character building, as demonstrated by Job that character is more important in God’s eyes than the pain and suffering you are experiencing in this life. Just remember that you are not alone, and your pain and suffering are not everlasting. Fear that your pain and suffering will go on indefinitely is often worse than the actual experience itself because fear is seldom real. In addition, pain and suffering may activate the goodness in you—your strength in vulnerability, your ability to function within your limitation, your compassion and gratitude for others. Above all, pain and suffering teach you to "let go" of your fear, as well as other impermanent things in your life.
"The Wisdom of Letting Go" is the wisdom in living because nothing lasts.
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