It seems odd that the day which honors Jesus’s torment on the cross should be referred to a “Good Friday.” What could be good about that kind of suffering? And yet, mythology is full of these stories of tortured gods and heroes.
How has your personal story been shaped by a time of intense physical or emotional pain?
Severe depression and anxiety have certainly played a significant role in my life. I would not be who I am now nor do what I do now if I had never experienced them. Perhaps some of these changes had some saving grace, but overall it wasn’t worth it (not that I had a choice or anything).
My first daughter died shortly after her birth, in June 1987. The anguish of this loss of a perfectly healthy child to unknown causes was almost too much for me to bear. Yet I have celebrated her birthday every year, in a quiet, personal way, and now that I am retired, I plan to volunteer support at a neonatal loss group. The suffering of Jesus has no meaning for me, but my own suffering has changed me in mysterious but important ways. Thanks for this posting and for the tender reminder.
Jesus, Gandhi, King always come to mind – for me – together. Suffering did not “scare” them. Gandhi said to make change you have to expect a few blows to the head — words to that effect. “Original sin” must be what humankind suffers when it assassinates its “heroes” rather than making the changes they see as crucial to our well being.
In retrospect, I can say that I have not had INTENSE pain, neither physical nor emotional. As regards emotional pain, perhaps, if I think about it enough, I can remember that the loss of a what- I- thought- then- to- be- a- true- love seemed unbearable at the time. Now, it seems to have been a blessing since I know now that it was inappropriate and not the best direction for my life to go. We live and learn, as the old saying goes.