I always have the desire to come out of any trial or ordeal completely unscathed and in full form. But that is farthest from the reality. We learn from people of all sorts, from those who rose from the gutter or those who managed to rise above their circumstances. We learn from the boxer who, before winning his title as the greatest boxer of his time, has to endure several cuts and bruises he sustained in several boxing competitions. Or from a soldier who, while being in a combat, fights till he loses a limb or two and yet truimphs over the enemies in the end.
No one gets out of the trial succesfully without first experiencing failure. No one becomes a victor without first becoming a victim. We all go through "little deaths" each time we face difficulty. Interestingly though, when we realize the purpose behind those defeating experiences, we learn to transform them to something quite liberating. And so we strive to outdo ourselves and be better than before. I occassionally come across stories of ordinary people who went through untold sufferings but because of their determination, courage and unwavering faith they were able to survive them all. I believe it can happen to anyone, because we are all given another opportunity to redeem ourselves after losing many battles.
As Victor Frankl, a Jewish psychiatrist said, "suffering ceases to be suffering, to some extent, at the moment it finds a meaning". A true survivor is one who seeks meaning behind his suffering, and, as soon as he realizes it, he moves on to accept it wholeheartedly but keeps in mind that the battle is not yet over. He continues to master his craft, improves himself, and reflects on the lessons he has learned from defeat. And all these he does with love for love furthers him to conquer his weaknesses. It gives him the reason to do what is right. It encourages and strengthens him to continue to fight a good fight even if there is a slim chance for victory. After all the battle is not yet over until we die... or better yet, until we surrender in self-defeat.
The meaning of suffering takes a real form in the words of Paulo Coelho: "The fear of suffering is worst than suffering itself... no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity".
