It is probably unusual to equate suffering and thanksgiving. However, for several reasons, it is a theme that is working through my mind today.
This could be the result of a conversation I had yesterday with Leo, a young Costa Rican industrial engineer. Leo and I were sharing some personal prayer requests. He told me this had been a hard year. His girlfriend of several years dumped him after he lost the lower part of his left leg in a motorcycle accident in April. Since then, he has been through several surgeries and skin grafts. In the epitome of understatement, Leo said, "This hasn't been my best year ever."
On the other hand, my thoughts about suffering and thanksgiving might have to do with a new diagnosis Su received on Tuesday. This time, after an especially difficult exam, the physician told us that he is quite certain Su has "interstitial cystitis."
I hate it when I find myself nodding my head like I know what something means but then have to go home to look it up on the Internet. As far as I am concerned, eighth grade health class did not prepare me for real life.
The "long and the short" of interstitial cystitis is that it is a chronic condition that affects an estimated 1 million Americans. While it can affect children and men, most of those affected are women. As the Mayo Clinic website states in another example of understatement, "Interstitial cystitis can have a long-lasting adverse impact on your quality of life."
On yet the other hand, my thoughts may have something to do with reading some prose by John Donne, the 17th Century British poet during my devotional time.
Born in England in 1571, John Donne spent his youth in basic rebelliousness and sin. He developed his writing abilities while penning witty, erotic poems. When he finally came to Christ he saw himself as "the prodigal saved only by grace."
Through a middle age marked by increasing devotion to Christ - but also by poverty and discouragement - he turned his evident poetic skill to the great themes of love, death, and God's mercy. In 1615 he became an ordained Anglican priest and for several years poured his creative energies into sermons rather than poetry.
During a near-fatal illness in the year 1623, Donne turned again to poetry, completing his most famous volume, The Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions. Each day, the bedridden clergyman heard from his window the church bells of London announcing that the Black Plague had taken more victims. Donne was convinced he, too, had the plague and would soon die (His famous phrase, the person "for whom the bell tolled" was self-descriptive).
Some of the prose that he wrote during this time included:
"I see your hand upon me now, O Lord, and I ask not why it comes or what it intends.
Whether you will bid my soul to stay in this body for some time, or meet you this day in
This could be the result of a conversation I had yesterday with Leo, a young Costa Rican industrial engineer. Leo and I were sharing some personal prayer requests. He told me this had been a hard year. His girlfriend of several years dumped him after he lost the lower part of his left leg in a motorcycle accident in April. Since then, he has been through several surgeries and skin grafts. In the epitome of understatement, Leo said, "This hasn't been my best year ever."
On the other hand, my thoughts about suffering and thanksgiving might have to do with a new diagnosis Su received on Tuesday. This time, after an especially difficult exam, the physician told us that he is quite certain Su has "interstitial cystitis."
I hate it when I find myself nodding my head like I know what something means but then have to go home to look it up on the Internet. As far as I am concerned, eighth grade health class did not prepare me for real life.
The "long and the short" of interstitial cystitis is that it is a chronic condition that affects an estimated 1 million Americans. While it can affect children and men, most of those affected are women. As the Mayo Clinic website states in another example of understatement, "Interstitial cystitis can have a long-lasting adverse impact on your quality of life."
On yet the other hand, my thoughts may have something to do with reading some prose by John Donne, the 17th Century British poet during my devotional time.
Born in England in 1571, John Donne spent his youth in basic rebelliousness and sin. He developed his writing abilities while penning witty, erotic poems. When he finally came to Christ he saw himself as "the prodigal saved only by grace."
Through a middle age marked by increasing devotion to Christ - but also by poverty and discouragement - he turned his evident poetic skill to the great themes of love, death, and God's mercy. In 1615 he became an ordained Anglican priest and for several years poured his creative energies into sermons rather than poetry.
During a near-fatal illness in the year 1623, Donne turned again to poetry, completing his most famous volume, The Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions. Each day, the bedridden clergyman heard from his window the church bells of London announcing that the Black Plague had taken more victims. Donne was convinced he, too, had the plague and would soon die (His famous phrase, the person "for whom the bell tolled" was self-descriptive).
Some of the prose that he wrote during this time included:
"I see your hand upon me now, O Lord, and I ask not why it comes or what it intends.
Whether you will bid my soul to stay in this body for some time, or meet you this day in
paradise, I ask not.
Curiosity of mind tempts me to know, but my true healing lies in silent and absolute obedience
Curiosity of mind tempts me to know, but my true healing lies in silent and absolute obedience
to your will, even before I know it.
Preserve that obedience, O my God, and that will preserve me to you; that, when you have
Preserve that obedience, O my God, and that will preserve me to you; that, when you have
catechized me with affliction here, I may take a greater degree, and serve you in a higher place,
in your kingdom of joy and glory. Amen." (As paraphrased by Philip Yancey)
"When you have catechized me with affliction, I may... serve you in a higher place." Brave words and a courageous attitude from a man going through challenging life experiences.
By the way, Leo ended his conversation with me by telling me, "In many ways I am thankful for the events of this year... because I have grown so much in my relationship with God." He wasn't just saying that to impress me. It was obvious to me that he really did have a spirit of thanksgiving about him.
Su and I were incredibly thankful for some words from Scripture this morning. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we have not a high priest not able to sympathize with our infirmities.." (Darby Version) Most modern translations read "weaknesses" instead of infirmities. However, the Greek word "astheneia" is most often translated as "frailty or feebleness of health or sickness."
We are thankful for a God who really knows and cares and understands... even if we sometimes do not. Even in our hard years we can know that He is faithful.
John Donne did not die until he was 59 or 60. However, through the realities he went through, he learned how to give thanks - even during a time of plague.
In a paraphrase of his original lines, Donne wrote,
"Nature reaches out her hand and offers corn, and wine, and oil, and milk;
But it was you who filled the hand of nature with such bounty.
Industry reaches out her hand and gives us fruits of labor for ourselves and our prosperity;
But you guided the hands that sowed and watered, and you gave the increase.
Friends reach out their hands to support us;
But your hand supports the hand we lean on."
Your hand supports the hand we lean on - even in challenging years like Leo's; even in sickness; and, even in times of plague. That is something for which we can be thankful.
"When you have catechized me with affliction, I may... serve you in a higher place." Brave words and a courageous attitude from a man going through challenging life experiences.
By the way, Leo ended his conversation with me by telling me, "In many ways I am thankful for the events of this year... because I have grown so much in my relationship with God." He wasn't just saying that to impress me. It was obvious to me that he really did have a spirit of thanksgiving about him.
Su and I were incredibly thankful for some words from Scripture this morning. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we have not a high priest not able to sympathize with our infirmities.." (Darby Version) Most modern translations read "weaknesses" instead of infirmities. However, the Greek word "astheneia" is most often translated as "frailty or feebleness of health or sickness."
We are thankful for a God who really knows and cares and understands... even if we sometimes do not. Even in our hard years we can know that He is faithful.
John Donne did not die until he was 59 or 60. However, through the realities he went through, he learned how to give thanks - even during a time of plague.
In a paraphrase of his original lines, Donne wrote,
"Nature reaches out her hand and offers corn, and wine, and oil, and milk;
But it was you who filled the hand of nature with such bounty.
Industry reaches out her hand and gives us fruits of labor for ourselves and our prosperity;
But you guided the hands that sowed and watered, and you gave the increase.
Friends reach out their hands to support us;
But your hand supports the hand we lean on."
Your hand supports the hand we lean on - even in challenging years like Leo's; even in sickness; and, even in times of plague. That is something for which we can be thankful.
No comments:
Post a Comment