Is There a Purpose for Suffering?

The recent poll question, "how do you feel about assisted suicide?," brought to mind some thoughts I have had recently. The comments have added to my thoughts and I decided to write a post about it. My thought is: What is the purpose to suffering?

This is a question many ask. Suffering is an unavoidable part of life. It is an aspect that no one can avoid. "Why me?" is a question often asked when a person is dealing with suffering. There are two explanations for suffering.

One is the pessimistic aspect. Suffering is a part of life, it serves no purpose, deal with it. If you don't like life, then drink alcohol, take drugs, or kill yourself. Many alcoholics and drug addicts have these addictions because it makes them feel better and helps them to forget about life. However, is something so difficult in life there with no purpose? I contest.

Thus, option number two: suffering has purpose. There are a variety of ways suffering can serve as a purpose.

One obvious way is that it helps us to recognize happiness. Without suffering, we canNOT have happiness, because we would have nothing to measure our happiness against. Therefore, suffering provides us with the ability to be happy and experience the good of life.

Another way is that it can inspire others. For example, a woman in a our community has cancer. Her giving and love for others despite her own trials is encouraging and inspiring for those who know her. Similarly, those who undergo suffering can be an example for others. When people undergo trials, no matter what they are, they like knowing that they are not alone and that others can relate to them. These people would not be able to relate if they had not undergone suffering themselves. Hopefully the suffering person will later be able to help someone else.

There are many other reasons I could list as purposes of suffering, however, my challenge to you is to come up with another reason for suffering. Finding a purpose for suffering could lead to having a peace with suffering. Even if you do not list a reason, I do want you to think about it. Without purpose for this inevitable and often large part of life, you will have a difficult time finding hope. Without hope, there is no reason to live, which is why people choose suicide and assisted suicide.

Now my discussion has brought me to a full circle and I shall end this here. Be sure to think about the purpose of suffering in your life and the good things that have come out of suffering and seemingly bad situations.