Pain.

Zac and I were invited to a gathering last night where he shared his sermon from a couple of weeks ago and then we shared a little bit together. As always, it was a really neat time of encouragement and seeing the Spirit move among his people. Afterwards, person after person came up to us to share their individual stories of suffering. It is always so shocking to me that in our culture we sweep suffering under the rug as much as we do. If you have a headache, you take a Tylenol immediately. When we told people about Joel's autism, we were bombarded with recommendations for treatments and therapies. When someone is in the midst of an extreme personal trial, many of their friends avoid them. Someone literally laughed in my face the other day when I told them I might not have an epidural when I deliver this baby. "You don't get a medal for the extra suffering" she said.

No, I don't. But suffering if a part of this world. It is inevitable that EVERYONE will face it in some way, at some time. It is a result of sin and evil in this world. It is a part of the kingdom cycle. In a small way, when we suffer, we can have just a taste of what Christ went through and there is true fellowship in sharing in his sufferings. If we are always shying away from pain ourselves, or from engaging with others when they are in pain, we lose sight of part of the sacrifice that Christ made for us. It can become trite and removed from our everday experiences. I for one, hope that never happens, for in suffering, we receive something that is truly a severe mercy from God.