Unrelenting Life Of Pain

[MikeWoodall]

 

It is amazing to experience all the resources available for finding happiness. The pitch for happiness is in abundance everywhere we turn. Do this, and you will be happy. If you go there, you will become happy. Enroll in this, to become happy. Buy this or that, then. . . we will become happy. What if true happiness isn't available to anyone . . . not you nor I. . . until we have dealt with our pain. Could there be some truth in this statement?

 

From the moment of our birth, until our soul leaves the body, life is painful.

 

Forced out through the canal of birth, our tiny bodies squeezed and contorted, we gasp in desperation for that first inflow of life-giving air. We scream. What pain!

What fear! Our first real experience of our new world.

 

Now, think of the other end of life. (I've seen it many times.) It always concludes with an exhalation. One final outflow of breath as the spirit leaves its earthly vessel.

 

Sandwiched between our first and final breaths is pain. Lots of pain. One painful experience after another. From birth through death, each of us owns a lifetime of painful experiences. True, there are moments when the pain subsides. Moments of light, fragrance and peace. Fragments of joy. Hints of perfection. Where everything in life is as it should be. Where all sustenance of life is revealed.

 

But beneath the surface, pain’s presence is insistent, unrelenting, undeniable . . . woven throughout the fine strands of life’s canvas. Ever so delicately just beneath the surface, laced and weaved throughout the fine strands of the fibers within the canvas. Is it possible the best we can ever do… is to acknowledge the presence of the pain that is forever present on our canvas of life? Can we shift the way we look at it? Can we begin a new relationship with the pain?  Is it possible to accept and embrace the ever present pain? Is it possible to dissolve the power of the stigma, shame, or guilt that we associate with the pain we hold inside? Do we fear our deepest and most painful experiences will be discovered?

I think there are many who ponder these questions and feel the same as I, but don’t communicate it.

I believe our experience of pain defines our existence in this world. It determines how we give and receive, how we perceive and interact with one another.  I believe our pain controls more than we can ever know. Perhaps our entire experience of life is filtered through the lens of our pain. 

Some, very few, can communicate their pain. But most of us cannot. We keep our pain locked up, afraid to show it, out of fear of discovery. And it makes me wonder:  

 

• • Does our pain keep us from experiencing the fullness of the living God in our lives?

  • Do we make goodness unattainable by keeping our pain inside?

  • Does harboring our pain cause us to see our reflection only dimly “as in a mirror” . . . when we could be seeing “face to face”? (1 Corinthians 13:12 http://biblehub.com/esv/1_corinthians/13.htm)

 

Is it possible, the only way to break from pain’s shackles, the only path to freedom, is to speak the poison out? Can something phenomenal be manifested through purging the pain we hold captive inside?  When another human being listens closely to our story of pain and tells us “they get it,” a door opens. Especially when they repeat our pain back to us as if they truly get it. We know we are not alone. We feel the empathy. We begin to feel the healing. We begin to step into the light. The pinhole of light that can pierce the darkness. We step into the healing light. 

 

And we embolden others to tell their story. We make it easier for people to tell and to heal — freeing one another from our pain. What a wonderful gift we can give one another simply by speaking and listening with empathy and love.

So speak the pain you are feeling inside. Do it for yourself. Do it for others. You are not alone. There are many of us.

 

Let’s start writing.

Let’s make this world a better, happier, less painful place.

One story at a time.

I'll go first.

 

Mike

WePublishHope.com

 

Edited March 2, 2019 by MikeWoodall

[Jonathan H. B. Lobl]

4 hours ago, MikeWoodall said:

 

It is amazing to experience all the resources available for finding happiness. The pitch for happiness is in abundance everywhere we turn. Do this, and you will be happy. If you go there, you will become happy. Enroll in this, to become happy. Buy this or that, then. . . we will become happy. What if true happiness isn't available to anyone . . . not you nor I. . . until we have dealt with our pain. Could there be some truth in this statement?

 

From the moment of our birth, until our soul leaves the body, life is painful.

 

Forced out through the canal of birth, our tiny bodies squeezed and contorted, we gasp in desperation for that first inflow of life-giving air. We scream. What pain!

What fear! Our first real experience of our new world.

 

Now, think of the other end of life. (I've seen it many times.) It always concludes with an exhalation. One final outflow of breath as the spirit leaves its earthly vessel.

 

Sandwiched between our first and final breaths is pain. Lots of pain. One painful experience after another. From birth through death, each of us owns a lifetime of painful experiences. True, there are moments when the pain subsides. Moments of light, fragrance and peace. Fragments of joy. Hints of perfection. Where everything in life is as it should be. Where all sustenance of life is revealed.

 

But beneath the surface, pain’s presence is insistent, unrelenting, undeniable . . . woven throughout the fine strands of life’s canvas. Ever so delicately just beneath the surface, laced and weaved throughout the fine strands of the fibers within the canvas. Is it possible the best we can ever do… is to acknowledge the presence of the pain that is forever present on our canvas of life? Can we shift the way we look at it? Can we begin a new relationship with the pain?  Is it possible to accept and embrace the ever present pain? Is it possible to dissolve the power of the stigma, shame, or guilt that we associate with the pain we hold inside? Do we fear our deepest and most painful experiences will be discovered?

I think there are many who ponder these questions and feel the same as I, but don’t communicate it.

I believe our experience of pain defines our existence in this world. It determines how we give and receive, how we perceive and interact with one another.  I believe our pain controls more than we can ever know. Perhaps our entire experience of life is filtered through the lens of our pain. 

Some, very few, can communicate their pain. But most of us cannot. We keep our pain locked up, afraid to show it, out of fear of discovery. And it makes me wonder:  

 

• • Does our pain keep us from experiencing the fullness of the living God in our lives?

  • Do we make goodness unattainable by keeping our pain inside?

  • Does harboring our pain cause us to see our reflection only dimly “as in a mirror” . . . when we could be seeing “face to face”? (1 Corinthians 13:12 http://biblehub.com/esv/1_corinthians/13.htm)

 

Is it possible, the only way to break from pain’s shackles, the only path to freedom, is to speak the poison out? Can something phenomenal be manifested through purging the pain we hold captive inside?  When another human being listens closely to our story of pain and tells us “they get it,” a door opens. Especially when they repeat our pain back to us as if they truly get it. We know we are not alone. We feel the empathy. We begin to feel the healing. We begin to step into the light. The pinhole of light that can pierce the darkness. We step into the healing light. 

 

And we embolden others to tell their story. We make it easier for people to tell and to heal — freeing one another from our pain. What a wonderful gift we can give one another simply by speaking and listening with empathy and love.

So speak the pain you are feeling inside. Do it for yourself. Do it for others. You are not alone. There are many of us.

 

Let’s start writing.

Let’s make this world a better, happier, less painful place.

One story at a time.

I'll go first.

 

Mike

WePublishHope.com

 

 

Hello Mike:

 

I'm not clear on what you're looking for.  I do know a bit about pain.

 

I've had a few medical procedures, that took me to places of acute pain, I hadn't known were possible.

I have Arthritis.  It's been an adventure in dealing with long term, chronic pain.

I have been in love several times.  None of it ended well.

 

So yes.  I know something about pain.  None of this, has anything to do with my relationship to God.  I'm an Atheist.

 

What shall we discuss? 

 

Where are my manners?  Welcome to the board.  Enjoy your visits.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 3, 2019 by Jonathan H. B. Lobl

[Dan56]

8 hours ago, MikeWoodall said:

We make it easier for people to tell and to heal — freeing one another from our pain.

 

I'm not sure if speaking about painful episodes in our life is any antidote, but I reckon sharing in whatever misery that has befallen us might provide encouragement that others have endured similar painful experiences, whether they be physical, emotional,  economical, or tragedy. If I ever experience self-pity or complain about hardships, I always consider what Christ endured, and my troubles don't seem so significant. As Paul wrote; "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11)... Easier said than done. 

 

Welcome aboard Mike... Interesting topic

Edited March 3, 2019 by Dan56

[cuchulain]

I ordered pizza last night for the family.  My wife said"ughh... pizza.  Ok I guess." My daughter jumped up and down and said"yes yes yes yes yes".  The difference is perspective entirely.  There are things that we can control in life and things we can't.  It's thinking that we should be able to control what we can't or deserve more than we have that makes us disappointed with life or our position in it.

 

[Jonathan H. B. Lobl]

There is a Buddhist thought.  I don't know where it comes from.

 

We all face obstacles.  Suffering is voluntary.  

 

 

 

[RevBogovac]

10 hours ago, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:

There is a Buddhist thought.  I don't know where it comes from.

 

We all face obstacles.  Suffering is voluntary.  

 

 

I remember something like:

 

Quote

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

 

😉

 

Not trying to take this subject not seriously. Have had my share of pain; both having been in war (twice) and having a chronic illness... but "perspective" does seem to make the difference.

[Jonathan H. B. Lobl]

3 hours ago, RevBogovac said:

 

I remember something like:

 

 

😉

 

Not trying to take this subject not seriously. Have had my share of pain; both having been in war (twice) and having a chronic illness... but "perspective" does seem to make the difference.

 

The thought is valid, even though Yoda is the one who said it.