Pain & Suffering
(This is a letter written to me with permission from the author which is in response to the previous two articles published here.
The author of this letter has himself and his family, gone through over twenty years of incredible suffering with a complete life changing outlook of his life. He survived a complete botched operation, performed by a Doctor who was not only unskilled to perform the operation but also, it was later revealed, to be entirely untrained and unqualified to order the operation)
Hey Nicholai,
Wow mate! Both amazing reads!
It sounds like we have been on similar journeys, suffering and pain wise.
It’s clear that suffering and pain strips you down to the core and when embraced, or accepted, which definitely takes some time, it gives you clarity of sight and perception you didn’t have before.
I think it has to do with stripping down.
Everything is stripped away. All ideals, notions, previous bias, beliefs and even many convictions.
I found the stripping took out everything wrapped around me and a part of me that made it difficult to see past myself and my tiny world. I found that once I accepted the incredible loss I had suffered physically, mentally and emotionally, all of the rubbish, self preservation, pride, opinions and certain belief goes and you see clearly maybe for the first time in your life.
What was important is no longer and what was to be pursued is now worthless. Life is simpler, clearer and very accurate. Discernment has become second nature. I think it’s the discernment that helps us see with crystal clarity what’s going on in the world today, not just Covid and it’s associated rubbish but also the nature of faith and the way we have understood and communicated our faith.
A lot has changed for me in this regard too, I have a very different faith now and need to communicate it differently too. Suffering and loss have been and continue be transforming as long as I allow it to be.
It’s still a gut wrench of sadness some days but that’s manageable, as I have never had to deal with bitterness or anger over my loss for some reason. I often think of how literally impossible life would be for me if I was a bitter and angry man.
I am so so thankful to the Father that He has miraculously preserved me in this regard.
If you’re ever up this way on another of those camping trips, let’s catch up.
All the best
A