This week at The Table: Meditations on suffering
“As I write this blurb, I realize that “Meditations on Suffering” doesn’t exactly sound like a cheerful topic, and I’m partially wondering why anyone would want to “tune in” (as it were) to hear me talk about pain and distress. The truth is, however, that suffering is part of all our lives, and ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. The coronavirus and its rippling impact is just one example. For me, suffering has always been inextricably linked to my spiritual beliefs. Once upon a time, its mere existence was my reason to reject God (or the idea of God that was presented to me). Today, the fact that humans experience suffering is one of the reasons I continue to explore my spirituality and beliefs – not because I believe suffering is a test of faith, but rather that it is a testament of love. This Sunday, I’ll walk through my journey with the concept of suffering, drawing on the Old Testament, Buddhist philosophy, and some good ol’ Richard Rohr.”