Suffering and Human Destiny

In the flyleaf of “The Problem of Pain”, C.S. Lewis offers this quote:

“The Son of God suffered unto death, not that men might not suffer, but that their suffering might be like HIs.” (George Macdonald, Upsoken Sermons, First Series)

This week, the Sunset Dialogues take us into the question of suffering and human destiny, and the dilemnas posed by facing the question of suffering from the vantage point of having faith, and the vantage point of having none. Either way (or any of the mix of ways in between), we are still faced with the problem of pain and what to make of it.

And, as Lewis goes on to point out in the preface of his book, we are not only faced with the intellectual problem of human suffereing, but with the far greater challenge of learning how to face it with fortutude and patience, let alone hope or happiness.

So bring your mug, come down to the Frame Arts Warehouse (318 1/2 Ross) on Monday night, and dig in. As Lewis says, “when pain must be borne, a little courage helps more than much knowledge, a little human sympathy more than much courage, and the least tincture of the love of God more than all.”

And all of those things are best found in the company of others.

See you on Monday.

Peace,

Tim Plett