In
the movie, “Forrest Gump” there is a scene in which Jenny can be seen throwing
rocks at her old childhood house; sadly a place which held some pretty hideous
memories of neglect and abuse. Finally, as one or two rocks ring true, and we hear
the tinkle of breaking glass, she slumps to the ground in abject frustration
and fatigue. Throughout the ordeal Forrest has stood there a bit mystified, and
as Jenny sits gazing at the dilapidated house, he is heard to say,
“Sometimes
there’s just not enough rocks.”
Well,
sometimes there’s just not enough answers, (and far too many questions).
As
with the trials in my own life, and that of my wife, (and they have been
myriad) I certainly don’t have enough answers. I think we have all made the
faulty comparison between God and our earthly fathers, and mused,
“My
biological father would never let me go through this. Why is it that my
heavenly Father doesn’t exercise compassion, and bring an end to this hell
which I am enduring?”
I heard a story on “Night Sounds” this
morning which described an event from the life of some unidentified man during
the Great Depression. He was out of work, destitute and unable to properly
provide for his family. And as he walked along he came upon a rock mason
standing next to some great cathedral. He noticed that his efforts were
directed towards a triangular stone, and he naturally asked,
“Where does that one fit?”
To which the mason responded,
“Look up at the top of the building. It goes
in that little space there. I’m shaping it here so that it will fit up there.”
And of course, it suddenly struck him.
That which he was enduring here was all about shaping him for the momentarily
invisible, but inestimably more real and enduring life up there.
Pt. 2
Sometimes we are prone to read verses
such as,
“No temptation has taken you such as
is common to man. But God is faithful, and He will not allow you to endure more
than you can bear, but will with the temptation make a way of escape.” (1st Cor. 10:13) But given the severity, complexity and
permanence of what we happen to be enduring, it all seems to ring rather
hollow.
I admit, there’s far too many ‘pat
answers’ until we examine God’s countless promises and reassurances in
scripture, and the way “all things (really do) work together for good to us who
love God and who are the called according to His purposes.” (Of course, more
often, than not it is necessary to find ourselves on the other side of our pain
before we fully realize His purposes, and even then it may not be altogether
clear).
I have often reflected on Colossians
1:24 in which Paul speaks of the discipline of suffering.
“Filling up in my own body the
unfinished sufferings of Christ.”
Of course, the one and only thing we
have to offer Him in terms of suffering is … our participation. And to be sure,
it simply isn’t all that convenient to participate. It can be nigh on
excruciating.
I suppose there are any number of
reasons why we are chosen to participate in Christ’ suffering.
He has chosen us to teach us a lesson
we might not otherwise learn
He has chosen us as a witness of
patient endurance to shed forth His glory among unbelievers
He has chosen us to afford us that
sort of empathy and understanding for them who He has planned to set in our
pathway, and which, without the experience, we would not otherwise possess
He has chosen us for a task greater
than ourselves; the preparation for which requires the kind of fiery ordeal
that would break any common mortal
He has chosen us because of His
inherent trust in us to measure up; since “we serve a God who judges men
according to their actions.” (1st
Peter 1:17)
Pt. 3
As I survey what I have previously
written, I admit to feeling a bit like a Job’s Comforter. It is too easy to
philosophize. Perhaps the more so when well-armed with scriptural precepts and
platitudes; and when he who provides wise counsel has, in contrast to the one
for whom the message is intended, has so little at stake.
Yet, I also admit to having ‘been
there’ more times than I can count on my fingers and toes, (though my ‘there’
may be a different ‘there’ than your own, and present at a somewhat different
level).
There are among my family and friends
those who have borne greater difficulty than I have in life, and I can honestly
say I would have taken their pain from them at any time, and borne it in my own
body; had I been given the choice and the power to do so. But I realize there
is one God, (and I’m not Him). And whereas I am all too often powerless to act,
He is never taken unawares, and is altogether capable at all times.
I have found great solace in our Creator’s
marvelous assurance that “the light and the darkness are both alike to Him” and
that “before we ever took our first breath He planned every day of our lives.” (Psalm 139:12,16)
It is certain that each of us will
realize an end to the season which threatens to overwhelm our proverbial little
craft. And I am convinced that believers who hold fast to their faith will come
forth as gold; endowed with a new sense of empathy, and spirit of excellence to
which we might not otherwise have been endowed.
My friends, take courage and dig deep
into the spiritual riches of the promise of Isaiah 45:3.
“I will give you riches in darkness
and treasures in secret places.”
Pt. 4
I could not finish what I had started
without offering you a bit of guidance which I once gleaned from a radio
program, and which I have adopted as a very practical adjunct assignment in my
counseling practice.
The narrator of the program used an
acronym to highlight some crucial variables which have the power to make a
difference during seasons of testing, illness, or depression, and which are
equally essential in the good times as the bad.
F – Fun
There are things one can do and places
one can go to recreate without spending a great deal of money.
I – Intimacy
Those who suffer pain or loss should
surround themselves with a few people in whom they can depend and confide.
N – Nutrition
It is important to eat well and
include selections from all the food groups. In a related area, if you are
experiencing depression, and are not currently using an antidepressant
medication, you might consider using a nutritional supplement such as St.
John’s Wort or SAM-E which are available in health food stores.
E – Exercise
Adopt an exercise regimen tailor-made
for your own particular needs
R – Rest
Take care of yourself. Retire at the
same time of night. Take a nap during the day
As much as possible be good to
yourself and give your mind, body and spirit a respite from what you have
endured for far too long. Approach your day with a mindset which embraces as
much normalcy as your circumstances allow. If you find yourself thinking too
much about things, read a book, go for a walk, call a friend, do a journal
entry, etc.
If you wish to share, copy or save, please include this credit line.
By
William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 52. Copyright pending
If you wish to share, copy or save, please include this credit line.
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If you would like to see the titles and access hundreds of my blogs from 2015 and 2016, do the following:
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