Hello again from Egypt.
I was watching a show on Egypt and they were down in the lower part of Egypt in a very holy spot called St. Catherines. It's the first location where Christianity took hold.
The host went up into this mountian where a preist lived as a hermit after his mother died and stayed up there alone.
He mentioned to her that Suffering was cleansing, I am really trying to understand this and I seem to have a mental block.
I have lived with suffering now for 5 years am I cleansed?
I am not complaining however, I am trying to see where this fits in my life, I would like some views on this if anyone cares to post. Thank you in advance. Eve
Thank you Kay for your wonderful words.
Yes I too are a great believer of ” God won’t let you suffer more than you can endure”
I know I am a very strong person from past experiences and lessons learned. I know too I am a very blessed person to have experienced the blessing from a “Higher Power” and to have been released of many sufferings and hauntings from early childhood. All I said was, “Enough I can’t take anymore” It worked then however, now when I say this, I guess maybe in my heart I can stand more ? 🙂
I know thru my past experiences I have helped many change the paths they were going to take and probably ruin their lives and if I didn’t have those experiences I would not have been able to offer my knowledge and support those who asked for help. I feel this suffering and experiences were a blessing not a curse.
So many have told me I should write a book, I agree, where do I start ? 🙂 Thank you Kay.
My Dear Eve,
I can understand completely why you would ask that question. When in pain it is hard to imagine the reason. As the body ages and more pains arise, seemingly daily, it is hard to imagine why. I cannot see why physical pain is cleansing.
Suffering in the heart is where I have done the most growing. Well, maybe changing at least. When lying in the bed and screaming to the universe, “Why is this happening to me?”, I have had the most life altering thoughts and imaginings. I am not certain I would would call it cleansing, however. It is a matter of altering thinking patterns so that the internal anguish will be lessened. And then learning from those lessons, like the child who learns not to touch a hot stove.
I have heard suffering is good for the soul, and all kinds of things like that. Maybe people say that because one turns to God for help when nothing else seems to work. When we are happy and joyous and everything is wonderful in our lives, then many times people don’t think about God too much.
The one that always gets me: God won’t let you suffer more than you can bear. Does that mean that if I were a weaker person, that I would feel pain or anguish or despair?
The idea of suffering being some kind of catharsis is very old. One of its most significant proponents was Dostoevsky. And remember the Catholic thought of Purgatory.
I have experienced the cleansing effect of suffering myself. It seems that some misconceptions of life can only be cleansed from your mind by suffering great pain.
Yes ! Cleansing from the mind however, what happens when its lodged into the soul? I think this is my problem 🙁 not sure.
ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT CHANGE COMES FROM THE VALLEY FLOOR. WHEN ALL IS WELL WE FEAL THAT WE ARE ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN AND RARELY LOOK INWARD FOR GROWTH OR A NEW MORAL STANDING.