This reflection was originally posted on Palm Sunday, March 24th, 2024, three days before the one month mark of Joy’s hospitalization. The exploration of suffering, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of suffering, finding meaning making in and through suffering, and ultimately exploring joy in the midst of suffering, are some of the major themes I wish to explore over time in this section of our blog. Thank you for taking your valuable the time to consider this…
Posted to CaringBridge 03/24/2024
As we near the 1 month mark since the accident, I wanted to share some personal thoughts as I have reflected on the journey Joy, our family, and all of you who are faithful in your prayers for us, are on. From one perspective, the senseless accident caused by a distracted young driver with bad brakes and no liability insurance, was the ultimate in cruel and evil absurdity. And while that is true, I also know that this journey is one of hope and perseverance and significant meaning on a personal, interpersonal/collective, and spiritual/eternal scale.
In his letter to the church at Colossae, the apostle Paul writes, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions…”(1:24). Theologians differ on the full meaning of the verse, but one simple, clear takeaway for me is, suffering is not a waste or loss, but rather something of substantive value and meaning. In some unknown way, for those of us who are “in Christ,” suffering is a part of a larger purpose, the “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” While we may not understand the impact, value, or meaning of suffering this side of eternity, the fact that it can be seen to have value and not just be an absurd waste or meaningless loss, is a precious truth I cling to each day as I watch Joy in her courageous battle of survival and healing. And Joy’s experience is not the only suffering flowing with this accident, but also the suffering we each feel in our heartache and anguish at observing her slow painful recovery. Knowing that Joy’s and our collective suffering has value, has meaning, has substance, is a truth I invite you all to reflect on and hold, as you continue your faithful heartfelt prayers for Joy.
The apostle Paul’s words that allow us perspective on the meaning making of suffering are reinforced for me in the more recent history reflections of Victor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychologist who survived Auschwitz. Frankl studied and journaled about his and others’ conditions of despondency. Frankl came to posit that life, even amid the absurdity of human suffering, still had meaning. Suffering, as absurd as it seemed, pointed to a greater story in which, if one would only construe themselves as a character within, could find fulfillment in their tragic role, knowing the plot was heading toward redemption. That misery, though seemingly ridiculous, indicates life itself has the potential of meaning, and therefore pain itself must also have meaning.
We could not be at a more poignant time to reflect on suffering than the start of Holy Week and the approach of Christ’s Passion. And while we want our primary focus to be on Christ’s ultimate suffering and sacrifice, followed by his triumphant resurrection, I encourage you to not race past the painful reality honored this week. Rather, I invite you to reflect on and know that Joy, and you and I, are also playing a valuable, albeit mysterious, role in “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions,” and that that suffering has value, has meaning, has substance.