It may be true,
as my father liked to say,
that suffering builds character.
I'm willing to acknowledge
that suffering can (and has)
built something along the lines
of patience, empathy and stamina,
but I do believe suffering
can destroy character as well,
bringing despair, anger, hurt,
    confusion, resentment, even death.

I do not believe God values suffering,
    or despair,
    or death.

I do believe God is present with us
    in suffering,
    in despair,
    in death,
but I do not believe any of this
if what God intends for us.

I think my father wanted badly
to find some way to justify suffering,
as if God needed help
explaining the world's pain.

But God doesn't need our help
in defending the way the world is;
maybe there is no purpose for suffering:
    suffering is just suffering,
    like water is water,
    and air is air.

And you?
You are worthy because you are worthy,
that's all.
No explanation needed. 

Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.