THE ROAD TO (UN)SUFFERING

I say suffering is a dearth of love. We suffer when we lose a loved one, or when a loved one refuses to love us, at least the way we want to be loved. The mental and emotional anguish cannot be quantified. No one wants to suffer. We all want to be loved.  We want to keep all those we love.

Others suffer when we choose not to love. What is a smile, a kind word, a gentle touch, a financial help, a hug? What are our time and effort to be with them? They can set their path away from misery.

Sometimes we take suffering upon ourselves. Focusing on who and what we have lost. Ignoring the countless others, well at least one or two more, who love us. Withdrawing love from who cannot love us back.. the same way. Love turned to hate leads to suffering.

We suffer when we lose love. People can only take love away from us if we withhold it. Let it not be theirs to get, but ours to give.. freely. The irony of love is you get more of it when you give it. That’s one step to unsuffering.

This Holy Week, a number of Christians try to mimic the suffering of Christ.. though they know they could never. Jesus bore the sufferings of a world ridden with sin. God exchanged His suffering for all of man’s, that we may be justified through faith in Jesus. Shouldn’t we be grateful? Receiving God’s love in faith and heartfelt gratitude is a leap towards and a sturdy ride on the road to UnSuffering.

Are you humble enough to need love? Are you humble enough to receive love? And be willing to give love despite other people’s disrespect, arrogance, ambition, ambivalence, or pride? And Despite your own loneliness, frustration, anxiety, self-pity, envy, or pride? Dare to love in humility, and maneuver yourself safely to freedom from Suffering.

Would you resolve to love despite obstacles and hardships? Dare to love in difficulties and free others as well.

Where is the road to UnSuffering? I guess where Love, Gratitude (for God’s love and sacrifice), Humility (to receive from and give love to others), and Resolve (to love always) are. Would you take it?

– Ninang thoughts while looking for and finding that road..again

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:10-12)

Way Back Into Love

“..I’ve been watching but the stars refuse to shine,
I’ve been searching but I just don’t see the signs,
I know that it’s out there,
There’s gotta be something for my soul somewhere!

I’ve been looking for someone to shed some light,
Not somebody just to get me through the night,
I could use some direction,
And I’m open to your suggestions.

All I wanna do is find a way back into love.
I can’t make it through without a way back into love.
And if I open my heart again,
I guess I’m hoping you’ll be there for me in the end!..”

– Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore in Music and Lyrics

(Painting by Erika Sison)