An Honest Truth

I read this post today --

----------------------------------------

HAVE I SUFFERED ENOUGH?

May 6th, 2008

I have come to the realization that I have never suffered. There have been times in my life that I have been disciplined or even hurt, but I have not had experiences that have made me suffer. You could call it white privilege or you could even say I have lived the ‘American Dream’, but the reality is that I have lived a life absent of extreme pain, poverty, injustice, penalty, and death. I grew up in a middle class family and lived in beautiful homes. I have always eaten three meals a day (unless I chose to eat more or less), had access to transportation and clean water and clothing. I have a college education, my parents are both alive (and happily married) and I have even had controlled air in my house since I was born. I have never suffered.

I don’t write all this to share how great my life is in comparison to the rest of the world. On the contrary, I say all this because I think it is important to share with friends that my scope for compassion is limited because of my current life experience. I think my faith is small because of a lack of reliance on a spiritual presence to rescue me from bondage and suffering. Without suffering there is no need for rescue. What is suffering? I can’t define it because I haven’t experienced it. I think my capacity for compassion and genuine love for others that are poor, oppressed, downtrodden, sick, orphans, and widows is directly influenced by my lack of personal experience, knowledge and understanding of suffering.

Never would I wish suffering on others, but I am realizing that suffering does something in a person that nothing else can do. It challenges me to grow beyond myself. It connects me with others in a way nothing else can. Never will I truly love those that suffer, unless I have personally been influenced by suffering. My love is unfortunately limited because of the privilege I have been given of safety and security. So, I must begin embarking on acts of suffering to care for others that suffer. To discipline myself by stepping away from safety and security to gain a heart less filled with pride and replaced with care.

When will I have suffered enough to really love those that are suffering? To hurt with their hurt. To mourn with those who mourn. To know hunger with those who are hungry. To experience the pain of those in bondage. What would I do and who could I be, when I too have suffered?

----------------------------

For more posts from this guy, check out: www.jeffshinabarger.com

Enough said.