As a Stage IV melanoma survivor, the purifying fires of pain have swept through my own heart. Struggles have the potential to revise values and refocus priorities, setting us free from the empty desires and tyrannous demands of life.
So considering the ways of The Great Charter of Courses, I wonder if we spend too much time trying to change our journey and not enough time mastering its challenges. Don’t get me wrong, I think we should diligently and boldly seek course change – be it physical healing or deliverance from a rough situation. Even Jesus sought a Plan B route before His crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane! Yet there is a stumbling block in forgetting to move forward while we wait for circumstantial change.
Like little children in the back seat of our Heavenly Father’s car, we call out, “Are we there yet?” Sometimes endurance is our only choice.
Sometimes I think we see prayer like a cell phone contract. It's hard not to expect Him to perform - to answer when we call. Reconciling this was a struggle during my battle with Stage IV cancer. If He really loved me, He should be as committed to my well-being and comfort as I am, right?
Parents are forever trying to convince their youngsters that pain and uncomfortableness is only temporary. “We’re almost there.” “The pain will go away soon.” The Lord is forever trying to convince us as well - and He absolutely loves to watch us laugh.
Fortunately for us, the Lord never meant suffering to be just a cruel and bitter pill to be dutifully swallowed. Suffering is a path, never a destination.
-Joe Fornear During a high stakes health crisis, the last thing we need is to carry around a bunch of guilt. Yet during my own cancer battle, I never felt as guilty in my entire life. I had a nagging…
So to merge the symbolism of the three names (Euodia, Syntyche and Clement), serenity brings harmony between the good times and bad.
Opening up to another human being is tricky. Humans are not God, not perfect, and not the answer, but the right person can be the very vehicle to deliver God’s grace and gift of righteousness.
He is encouraging us to focus on His amazing love which leads to His vice-like grip! It's as if He is saying, "I love you so much that I permanently inscribed YOU on to My hands; I CAN'T let go of you!"