Jeff's Journal

The second Sunday of Lent's theme is "suffering."

There is perhaps, no more common theme

   that links humanity than suffering.

Pain, persecution, pressure, punishment,

   plague, poverty, pandemic, poison,

   perverseness, pedophilia, pathogens,

   parasite, panic — and these are just

   a few words beginning with the letter

   "p" which allude to suffering at some level.

The Bible relates the full spectrum of

   human suffering throughout its pages.

   We do not read a sanitized version of

   Holy Scripture, but rather we can identify

   with persecution, disease and genocide.

The discussion of the nature and meaning

   of suffering continues in many forums.

Suffering is the price we pay for living.

Our response to the suffering of others

   and our own suffering says a lot about

   who we are and what we believe.

I believe I am called to help relieve

   your suffering, just as you are called

   to help relieve my suffering. This may

   be the essence of our purpose on this

   earth. Suffering is neither good, nor bad.

   But it may very well be the common

      denominator which brings us together

      and tests our love and resolve to

      help others.

The oyster suffers the irritation of a grain

   of sand and responds by covering the

   grain of sand with material which becomes

   a pearl.

Will you "just suffer" or will you give your life

   meaning and joy by "making a pearl" in the

   process?

Moving to the deeper places,

Jeff