This writing is a reflection on the sections titled The Purpose of Affliction and The Misunderstanding of Suffering found in Paper 148. It is also a reflection on the loss of Kevin - a friend of mine who passed away recently after a long battle with cancer. I met Kevin the Scoutmaster in my son’s Boy Scout Troop. A very large man with a great smile – Kevin loved working with the boys, and he loved scouting. He was well known and had a lot of friends. Kevin developed throat cancer. They reduced it with radiation, operated, and hit him with chemo. For a while he was ok, but the cancer returned in his bones and the doctors started to give him regular chemo treatments. They told him he would have to endure these as long as he lived.
Bad things happen because of the vagaries of life – or just dumb luck. Did my friend Kevin get cancer because of a completely random act? There did seem to be an element of chance in his illness. He was a smoker, but many people smoke and live into old age. Was his suffering due to a quirk of mis-wired chromosomes or a single cell gone awry? Scientists can speak of percentages, but cannot predict who will become sick and who will not. There is no way to know if Kevin’s death was the result of an unlucky throw of the dice. For him they came up snake eyes. Jesus says; “Man suffers, first, from the accidents of time and the imperfections of the evil of an immature physical existence” (1664.4).
Bad things happen because of our choices – our free will actions that cause affliction upon ourselves and our world. Kevin smoked for a long time and scientists have established a link between smoking and many kinds of cancer – throat cancer included. Kevin may have sealed his fate the day he took a drag on that first cigarette. Would he have done it if he had known then the consequences of this simple action? Think of all of the self destructive behavior we engage in and all of the misery it causes. How many times we wish we could take it all back. And then we just do the same stupid things all over again. Jesus says; “Next, he suffers the inexorable consequences of sin – the transgression of the laws of life and light” (1664.4).
Many bad things are clearly the result of our persistent rebellion against God’s will. Our current science is getting so close to curing or treating so many of these scourges. Kevin lived longer because of the amazing drugs they pumped into him – many of which were only recently developed. I am certain that by the time my life ends I will witness many medical miracles. But look at the resources we are directing towards war and the extension of power. If we spent the money we do on our war machine on health issues instead, the suffering of many would be ended. It is my belief that Kevin would be alive today if we poured our energies into helping rather than hurting. Jesus says; “And finally, man reaps the harvest of his own iniquitous persistence in rebellion against the righteous rule of heaven on earth” (1664.4).
There is one more idea I wish to present. Maybe suffering is also part of God’s providence – part of His plan for our advancement. This sounds strange but maybe there is some good found in suffering. After Kevin became sick he stopped coming to the Scout meetings. But when he had finished his first round of chemo he came to say hello. He was a mess. He had lost an amazing amount of weight. His face was gaunt, his skin pallid. He was walking with the aid of a cane. I didn’t recognize him right away – he was a shadow of the man he was only a few months earlier. One would think that looking the way he did he would be afraid to be seen by the boys – but he wasn’t. He did not hide at home in his misery. He came many times to the meetings as he continued to fight the cancer. He came because he loved the boys – he loved scouting – and he wanted to contribute what he could. My friend Kevin was severely challenged in a life and death struggle – and if his body wasn’t up to the challenge his spirit was. There I saw him – looking like hell – still standing and offering to serve. It was his finest hour. Jesus says; “(Job’s) faith pierced the clouds of suffering to discern the light of life pouring forth from the Father as healing mercy and everlasting righteousness” (1664.4).
“The greatest affliction of the cosmos is never to have been afflicted. Mortals only learn wisdom by experiencing tribulation” (556.2).
Kevin left behind a wife and two children – and many friends. I look forward to meeting him again someday.
God bless you,
William Whitehead
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