His Purpose, His Glory.

This is one of the many images captured on our most recent trip to Mau'i, Hawai'i.  Carrie and I, having privilege to celebrate 30 years of marriage, decided to take a trip to the only island she has yet to see (besides Lanai and Molokai) as a tourist.  I posted it, while there, on my Facebook with the following words:

Psalm 42:7 Deep beckons deep in your roaring waterfalls; all your pounding waves and breakers have swept over me...11 Why then are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God!

Some of my friends are living in a time where they feel waves and breakers are overwhelming them. Even while here, in earthly paradise, my prayers have risen to God for his help in their time of need. With God as our rock, we will stand.

They say one picture is worth a thousand words, and yet, while a photo may speak volumes, to me there appears a single thought.  Out of that singular thought, thousands of situations fit with volumes of words I'm sure, and I hope my images, and photographic sentiments do such in your life.  

Most people question calamity, struggle and angst.  I have come to embrace it.  Understand, please!  I am not saying I like it, for the toils of life are indeed torturous, but I have discovered that when I arrive to the other side, I know something, have experienced something, which opens the door providing ability to minister to another soul as they endure similar trial.  While not garnering me privilege to freely speak "I know exactly how you feel", I have inklings, strong ones, allowing me to come alongside another.  

Compassion, according to dictionary.com is "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering."  If I have walked a similar, dischordant, difficult road, I have learned that I do have deep sympathy and sorrow for another stricken with such misfortune.  I wish I could alleviate their suffering, but I know I can't and if I were allowed to, would rob them of that gift given to me.  For as I worked through my struggle, the ability to come alongside another is presented so I can join another in their time of need with a tinge of comfort.  

If we stop to examine the word a bit, it seems almost a compound word, come and passion pressed together.  Compassion is best lived when we take the time to join another in their fight.  Our passion joined with theirs in the most difficult of times, for we possess the glimmer of hope, having survived similar calamity.  A friend of mine once told me, "We seem to be living in a world where feeling bad about another is good enough".  My response?  "And that falls far short of our calling as human beings created in the image of God."  

I believe I speak for everyone when I say "No one likes misfortune and toil; no one adores death and disease; no one cherishes pain and suffering."  and believe me I am there.  I am, however, choosing to live as I believe we are all called; to live a life of compassion, embracing the struggles I am led through for the cause of humanity, the comfort we can offer one another, having endured, having drunk deeply, the depths of suffering making it to the other side.  

In a recent blog "Encouraging Courage", I wrote about the endemic rise of childhood suicide, my RN wife, taking a class to help healthcare professionals look for the signs that  may point the way toward intervention in this sad issue.  The real sad part, is that, those succeeding in taking their lives will never have opportunity to discover the impetus found in "Slaying the Giant" (another recent blog), and for this heart, even sadder yet is that we don't rush to take our victory alongside another now in similar struggle.  

Have we lost sight of our purpose?  Have we succumb to all the distractions of pursing a counterfeit happiness instead of discovering the real deal?  Do we have the courage to join another facing a difficult battle?  

Indeed it takes courage to embrace calamity, struggle and angst.  Required courage is found in those who come alongside another with compassion.  The pinnacle of humanity is in the doing of such, bringing hope and love into a hurting life.  Doing so for a life in crisis would dash suicide.  

I have been blessed with those who have done such for me in my darkest of life's moments.  I could not have made it through without their compassion and care.  And, it is my utmost desire to be and do the same for those whose path I am privileged to cross as together we, embracing calamity, work through it to the other side.  Two humans, one God showing the way through; He working on our hearts for His purpose, His glory.  Are we up for the challenge?  Not alone, instead?  Together.