Suffering and compassion

I'm pretty sure that most of us who think about it at all, wonder how a God who is loving allows so much suffering. I think I may have raised this before but it is clearly something to come back to even if there are no terribly clear answers.

I do believe that a great deal of the suffering of our world is caused by us - by our own choices and actions. It seems to me that famine, war, injustice are humanly caused sufferings for the most part. Even so, there are sufferings that are natural and sufferings of loss for instance, that are simply part of being alive. 

Really bad suffering is almost more than we can bear and we cry out in helplessness or anger or despair. What seems clear at times like this is that when we cry out and someone responds in love ; when another human being hears our cry and stays beside us or brings healing or just acknowledges our pain, our burden is eased a great deal. When this happens it is a reflection of the presence of that God whom we call Love. We might have wanted the pain to be taken away entirely but even having the burden eased by another's presence is a gift.

Which brings me back to Thich Nhat Hanh and his wisdom. We Christians are often accused (sometimes rightly alas) of glorifying suffering. I do believe that suffering is something we should do everything we can to overcome, to erase. But when it does happen there is something to be learned and Thich Nhat Hanh has put it this way:

Many people aspire to go to a place where pain and suffering do not exist, a place where there is only happiness. This is a rather dangerous idea, for compassion is not possible without pain and suffering. It is only when we enter into contact with suffering that understanding and compassion can be born. (From You are Here)

At the same time he also points out a way to help ourselves in times when all seems dark and negative. He says:

If the presence of the other is refreshing and healing to you, keep hold of this presence and nourish yourself with it. If there are negative things around you, you can always find something that is healthy , refreshing and healing and with your mindfulness you can recognize its presence in your life. (You are Here) 


Whatever you may think of what he is saying, for instance, you might feel it is too simple or too hard, I do think it is worth thinking about and pondering. There might be a small step we can take here toward both continuing our efforts to overcome what suffering we can in our lives and in our world and also, when it exists, finding ways to see the possibility of growth.

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