In saying "House of Pain", you may think I have in mind one of these
spooky houses you visit at Halloween. No, that's not it. A hospital
perhaps? That might qualify for such a label (though medical PR firms
would shriek in protest). No, the place I have in mind is a place I
visit - and pay to visit.
At various times in the past 25 years I've held membership in the
local Wellness Center, an uptown name for "gym". This last go-around
has been my most successful; I've been at it for almost two years,
making visits two to three times a week. I've not yet been asked to
model for their advertising, but I can tell I'm in (somewhat) better
shape.
The physical price I pay, however, is often steep. Even after all
this time, I still struggle with the weight machines and have to push
myself to get in my time on the bike. There are times when the word
"pain" best describes what I feel. And yet I continue to make my
visits.
"No pain, no gain" is the old cliché for physical fitness, and it's
based on truth. As I strain to lift the weight, cells in my muscles
are broken down. In their place, though, new and stronger ones are
developed. We go through the pain of exercise, in other words, to see
some real benefits. We grow stronger through the pain.
In a larger sense this world is a house of pain. Do I need to provide
proof of that, or don't we see it every day on the news? Natural
disaster, illnesses, accidents - if there is one experience universal
to mankind, it is pain. We all go through it to one degree or
another. (There are a few exceptions; some people don't experience
physical pain. But this is itself is a serious medical condition.)
God provides the perspective we need as we consider our place in this
house of pain. Rather than being all bad, suffering can actually
bring about good. Here's how James presented the concept: "My
brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience
have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking
nothing" (James 1:2-4).
It's as if we have spiritual muscles, according to James. Without the
workout that suffering brings, our spiritual muscles become weak. The
popular modern version of this idea goes like this: "What doesn't kill
us makes us better" (attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche). In the case
of Christians, even that which kills us may make us better! The soul
endures even beyond death.
That's the fundamental principle in all of this: "For what will it
profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or
what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36,37). While
we wish to cling to good physical health, how much more vital that our
souls be kept healthy!
How can God help us cope with pain? Just listen to Paul: "Therefore
we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet
the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:16,17). Our time in this
house of pain is temporary. But one day ...
Timothy D. Hall
spooky houses you visit at Halloween. No, that's not it. A hospital
perhaps? That might qualify for such a label (though medical PR firms
would shriek in protest). No, the place I have in mind is a place I
visit - and pay to visit.
At various times in the past 25 years I've held membership in the
local Wellness Center, an uptown name for "gym". This last go-around
has been my most successful; I've been at it for almost two years,
making visits two to three times a week. I've not yet been asked to
model for their advertising, but I can tell I'm in (somewhat) better
shape.
The physical price I pay, however, is often steep. Even after all
this time, I still struggle with the weight machines and have to push
myself to get in my time on the bike. There are times when the word
"pain" best describes what I feel. And yet I continue to make my
visits.
"No pain, no gain" is the old cliché for physical fitness, and it's
based on truth. As I strain to lift the weight, cells in my muscles
are broken down. In their place, though, new and stronger ones are
developed. We go through the pain of exercise, in other words, to see
some real benefits. We grow stronger through the pain.
In a larger sense this world is a house of pain. Do I need to provide
proof of that, or don't we see it every day on the news? Natural
disaster, illnesses, accidents - if there is one experience universal
to mankind, it is pain. We all go through it to one degree or
another. (There are a few exceptions; some people don't experience
physical pain. But this is itself is a serious medical condition.)
God provides the perspective we need as we consider our place in this
house of pain. Rather than being all bad, suffering can actually
bring about good. Here's how James presented the concept: "My
brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience
have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking
nothing" (James 1:2-4).
It's as if we have spiritual muscles, according to James. Without the
workout that suffering brings, our spiritual muscles become weak. The
popular modern version of this idea goes like this: "What doesn't kill
us makes us better" (attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche). In the case
of Christians, even that which kills us may make us better! The soul
endures even beyond death.
That's the fundamental principle in all of this: "For what will it
profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or
what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36,37). While
we wish to cling to good physical health, how much more vital that our
souls be kept healthy!
How can God help us cope with pain? Just listen to Paul: "Therefore
we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet
the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:16,17). Our time in this
house of pain is temporary. But one day ...
Timothy D. Hall
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.