It is interesting to read Lee Wei Ling's article in the Sunday Times, 29 Aug 10, page 31. She lamented that she found it difficult to accept that her mother is bedbound, suffering from a massive stroke since 12 May 2008.
I share her sentiments. My mother used to be a strong woman. But over the last 10 years, she is now reduced to a totally helpless woman by Alzheimer's Disease.
Wei Ling wrote "...I accept these facts(growing old, falling sick and eventually dying) with no resentment that life is unkind. I have had more than my fair share of bad luck, but I never resented it, for I think suffering built up my resilience."
Ah yes! Suffering! When you are 55 years old, you would have gone through or seen a fair amount of suffering. Life offers both joy as well as suffering. But there is a difference - joy and suffering do not always cancel or square-off one another.
Sometimes an experience made us very pleased and joyful - like a visit to the majestic fjords at the coast of Norway. We are at cloud nine, exhilarated for a moment, perhaps for 3 months. Sometimes another experience traumatised us in suffering - like knowing a close relative gave birth to a still-born. We are in pain for 9 months.
You see, when comparing experiences of joy and suffering, suffering lasts 3 times longer than joy of the same intensity.
So why must one be born, journey on Earth for a couple of decades, experience more sufferings than joy, and then go to Heaven?
Can one by-pass Earth's journey and go straight to Heaven? That would be a simply way!
So, go, read the Book 'Wisdom of Solomon' in the Bible (deutero-canonicals). All these thoughts and sentiments had been mulled over and over in ages past. And the wisest of man had explained the meaning and purpose of life. You read and you will understand.
Tuesday 31 August 2010
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