Is there ever a purpose or meaning to be found in suffering? It is a question that has haunted hurting humanity throughout the ages. My wife, LaRee, and I have pondered this question throughout more than 25 years with a catastrophic disability.
In 1984, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). I went from being healthy and athletic to triplegic (only my left arm remains fully functional). I'm confined to an electric wheelchair.
LaRee and I have journeyed as a couple through the terror of serious neurological disease. There have been terrible trials, profound grief and sorrow, yet we have chosen to place our fate in the hands of God. Viewed in the light of Christ's Passion, death and resurrection we discovered meaning to our suffering. 
We have discovered a reason and purpose for our pain. Divine Joy was encountered in the midst of agony.
LaRee and I have developed and facilitate a 3-part seminar called SEARCHING FOR THE MEANING OF SUFFERING: A Christian Perspective. It is rooted in Pope John Paul II's 1984 Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris (The Gospel of Suffering). The seminar involves audio-visuals, personal presentations and perspectives on suffering (physical, emotional and spiritual), Q&A, small group sessions as well as prayer/reflection time.
Part one chronicles our family's experiences with suffering, loss and grief and invites participants' contributions and participation through examination of their own grief or grief of family members.
Part two examines a Christian perspective of suffering and places individual suffering in context with Christ's Passion, death and Resurrection. It raises the prospect of redemptive suffering.
Part three is a study of the possibility for people to rise above their suffering. We study the capacity of suffering to refine the humanity of people and draw them nearer to the Saviour. Suffering can set the circumstances for people to transcend themselves and sharpen their creativity. We illustrate this with historical examples.
The seminar concludes with a stunning audio-visual presentation of of Beethoven's 9th Symphony presented at the Vatican on the occasion of Pope Benedict's 80th birthday. (nb: Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his celebrated 9th Symphony at the height of his creative process while suffering from complete deafness.)
A PARTICIPANT'S RESPONSE
In the Spring of 2009, LaRee and I delivered the seminar about suffering to the Pastoral Centre employees of the Edmonton Catholic Archdiocese. Paul Quist, Director of Marriage and Family Life was a participant. He commented on the seminar:
"I highly recommend Mark and LaRee's seminar on suffering to any group who wants to learn more about the meaning of suffering from a Christian perspective. Mark and LaRee's witness, and the conversations that we shared in small groups after each session, made this event not only an intellectual exercise but a healing experience for the Christian community."
CONTACT:
LaRee and I are available to present SEARCHING FOR THE MEANING OF SUFFERING: A Christian Perspective. Contact us at 4417-51 Street, Beaumont, AB., Canada, T4X 1C8.
Tel: 780.929.9230 , or email: MPickup@shaw.ca
We have discovered a reason and purpose for our pain. Divine Joy was encountered in the midst of agony.
LaRee and I have developed and facilitate a 3-part seminar called SEARCHING FOR THE MEANING OF SUFFERING: A Christian Perspective. It is rooted in Pope John Paul II's 1984 Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris (The Gospel of Suffering). The seminar involves audio-visuals, personal presentations and perspectives on suffering (physical, emotional and spiritual), Q&A, small group sessions as well as prayer/reflection time.
Part one chronicles our family's experiences with suffering, loss and grief and invites participants' contributions and participation through examination of their own grief or grief of family members.
Part two examines a Christian perspective of suffering and places individual suffering in context with Christ's Passion, death and Resurrection. It raises the prospect of redemptive suffering.
Part three is a study of the possibility for people to rise above their suffering. We study the capacity of suffering to refine the humanity of people and draw them nearer to the Saviour. Suffering can set the circumstances for people to transcend themselves and sharpen their creativity. We illustrate this with historical examples.
The seminar concludes with a stunning audio-visual presentation of of Beethoven's 9th Symphony presented at the Vatican on the occasion of Pope Benedict's 80th birthday. (nb: Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his celebrated 9th Symphony at the height of his creative process while suffering from complete deafness.)
A PARTICIPANT'S RESPONSE
In the Spring of 2009, LaRee and I delivered the seminar about suffering to the Pastoral Centre employees of the Edmonton Catholic Archdiocese. Paul Quist, Director of Marriage and Family Life was a participant. He commented on the seminar:
"I highly recommend Mark and LaRee's seminar on suffering to any group who wants to learn more about the meaning of suffering from a Christian perspective. Mark and LaRee's witness, and the conversations that we shared in small groups after each session, made this event not only an intellectual exercise but a healing experience for the Christian community."
CONTACT:
LaRee and I are available to present SEARCHING FOR THE MEANING OF SUFFERING: A Christian Perspective. Contact us at 4417-51 Street, Beaumont, AB., Canada, T4X 1C8.
Tel: 780.929.9230 , or email: MPickup@shaw.ca
2 comments:
God truly bless you in this ministry to His beloved.
When you shall have come to the point where suffering is sweet and acceptable for the sake of Christ, then consider yourself fortunate, for you have found paradise on earth. But as long as suffering irks you and you seek to escape, so long will you be unfortunate, and the tribulation you seek to evade will follow you everywhere. (Thomas 'a Kempis)
only by Grace,
Pat
http://pnpontheroad.blogspot.com
Thank you for this comment.
MP
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