The Problem of Pain

Yes, I know the title to this post is the title of a beloved book written by one of my personal heros C.S. Lewis, but there really is a problem to pain.

During a discussion someone once posed this question that went something like "Is happiness the natural state for a mankind?" I sat there in a stupor. My first reaction was "Of course, almost everything pursued in life is with the desire for happiness," but then I thought for a minute. The person who posed the question went on to describe just how many things are painful in life, from physical pain to the mental, emotional and spiritual elements. I realized then what I had been dreading: Pain is unavoidable. Pain is the price for living. To go through life without pain is a life that never had any substance, that never loved or cared. And in the midst of all these thoughts, another came to me "Why do I spend so much time fighting pain? If it's here to stay, what am I to do? Have I lost the battle?" but then I realized "Fighting pain is a lot more painful than just accepting pain."

"Much of your pain is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self." Kahlil Gibran

I stood in the dark and let myself feel darkness

I stood in the sun and let myself feel alive

I stood in front of you and let myself be there with you

And you said it was good to have you back

I replied "It is good to be back, I missed this"

We walked and never spoke much of the fire

because we both knew we had a sound understanding of each other

There were better things to discuss than trials and tribulations

We had the future to think about

"I was made for sunny days. I made do with grey, but I didn't stay. I was made for sunny days and I was made for you"- The Weepies

I think that there really isn't a problem of pain, pain is part of life and it is something worthwhile. The lessons are never in the reward. They are along the road, the road is the real treasure or better yet, the fellow travelers. Pain is there, but it isn't an enemy, it's just a part of life. And in the end, joy is just pain that has bloomed. And we will see everything for what it really is. Pain always comes into our life, but it never stays unless we ask it too, and too often pain is wanting to part ways with the soul but we afraid what we will do without it. We ask it too stay, often times much longer than it wants too. Sometimes we just need to keep traveling, for we will cross paths with pain many times along the way, but we were never meant to have it as our companion.

"There will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears. And love will not break your heart but dismiss your fears. Get over your hill and see what you find there, with grace in your heart and flowers in your hair."- Mumford & Sons

It's good to know that hard times are gonna come, but so are good times. And with every hard time, the good times only get richer.

Living,

A postcard from a traveler (who crosses the path of pain here and there, but keeps moving)