Between Setbacks and Suffering: An Interlude of Gratitude
Setbacks and suffering visit us from time to time, some of us more than others. As some of you may know, we lost our oldest son this year, the result of a sudden, unexpected stroke. Any setbacks or suffering I've experienced in my life don't come close to the loss of our son.
Nevertheless, recently some of each arrived at work and during one of my exercise routines. While my response to each has been tempered somewhat after the devastating loss of a child, each has required attention and response.
The work setback won't be the end of the world, but it will be challenging to shore up the damage and get back on track. Then again, as the owner of a small business, this isn't the first and likely won't be the last time that I've had to muster my resources and skill set to deal with the inevitable setbacks that come with the territory.
The exercise issue wasn't so bad either, and it came as the result of a particularly demanding routine that required a level of exertion that could easily cause injury - and did. While it required a bit of grit to deal with the pain, again it wasn't the end of the world.
Why mention this? Well, first to "share" with those of you who have faced, now face, or might face bouts of disappointment, difficulty, even suffering in your lives. It comes to us all, doesn't it? And not always at the ideal time either. So the sharing thing is just to let you know we're all in this together. If that provides any consolation, great.
But for some reason this "double-whammy" of setback and suffering (yes, the injury was a bit painful) got me thinking about how often we easily focus on things when they go wrong. The converse, of course, is that we're awfully niggardly with our gratitude when things go right. And that's a bit strange because (for most of us I suspect), things go right a lot more than the reverse. At least that's been my experience over the years.
The point was recently driven home by these verses in Psalm 102. They helped focus my mind and heart where it ought to be when faced with setbacks and suffering. Perhaps you will find them helpful as well:
I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help shall come to me. My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber that keepeth thee. Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, that keepeth Israel. The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy protection upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night. The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul. May the Lord keep thy coming in and thy going out; from henceforth now and for ever.
With my eyes now lifted up to the Lord, and with the help of His grace, I'm off to face whatever this day may bring.
Nevertheless, recently some of each arrived at work and during one of my exercise routines. While my response to each has been tempered somewhat after the devastating loss of a child, each has required attention and response.
The work setback won't be the end of the world, but it will be challenging to shore up the damage and get back on track. Then again, as the owner of a small business, this isn't the first and likely won't be the last time that I've had to muster my resources and skill set to deal with the inevitable setbacks that come with the territory.
The exercise issue wasn't so bad either, and it came as the result of a particularly demanding routine that required a level of exertion that could easily cause injury - and did. While it required a bit of grit to deal with the pain, again it wasn't the end of the world.
Why mention this? Well, first to "share" with those of you who have faced, now face, or might face bouts of disappointment, difficulty, even suffering in your lives. It comes to us all, doesn't it? And not always at the ideal time either. So the sharing thing is just to let you know we're all in this together. If that provides any consolation, great.
But for some reason this "double-whammy" of setback and suffering (yes, the injury was a bit painful) got me thinking about how often we easily focus on things when they go wrong. The converse, of course, is that we're awfully niggardly with our gratitude when things go right. And that's a bit strange because (for most of us I suspect), things go right a lot more than the reverse. At least that's been my experience over the years.
The point was recently driven home by these verses in Psalm 102. They helped focus my mind and heart where it ought to be when faced with setbacks and suffering. Perhaps you will find them helpful as well:
I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help shall come to me. My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber that keepeth thee. Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, that keepeth Israel. The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy protection upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night. The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul. May the Lord keep thy coming in and thy going out; from henceforth now and for ever.
With my eyes now lifted up to the Lord, and with the help of His grace, I'm off to face whatever this day may bring.
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