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Editor’s note: God can reveal His truth and His message
in many ways. Living the Solution is non-denominational and
ecumenical in our approach. In addition to our original articles
we sometimes present guest contributions from others walking
a spiritual path, such as this article from Dr. P. C. Simon.
If you would like to submit an article for consideration
please visit our writer’s guidelines page.
Blessings
of Adversity |
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By Dr. P.C. Simon © 2003
When calamities come our way, we are resentful or even crushed.
Yet calamities and adversities are blessings. Life's obstacles
and disasters are unforeseen opportunities. For example, if
Jesus Christ had not been crucified, he may have died as an
old prophet and would have been long forgotten. Because of
his crucifixion the western world worships him as God, the
savior of the world.
Stephen Hawking, British theoretical physicist, would not have
achieved such popular prominence for his work in the field
of cosmology if it had not been for his affliction, Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis. In an autobiographical note on the internet
Hawking wrote, "Before my condition had been diagnosed,
I had been very bored with life. There had not seemed to be
anything worth doing. But shortly after I came out of the hospital
I suddenly realized that there were a lot of worthwhile things
I could do. I found to my surprise that I was enjoying life
in the present more than before. It shows that one need not
lose hope."
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Consider how Othello, the black Moor, captivated the beautiful
Desdemona. She sat at his feet and urged him to tell her his
adventures and heroic deeds. What were these adventure stories
and heroic deeds? They were nothing but adversities, tribulations,
and catastrophes during which he cheated death many times.
At the time of those adversities, Othello did not think that
those events were blessings. He probably thought that they
were curses. But having gone through them, he was proud to
tell his hair-raising stories.
There are two ways we can reduce the adverse influence of the catastrophes we
face. One is to recognize them as challenges and opportunities to display our
metal and the second is to build a conviction that we are always challenged to
the maximum of our capacity but never beyond. That means that we will be able
to overcome the situation. Success is assured provided we play our part. This
is not only true with human beings; it is true with plants and animals. Those
who have seen paddy transplantation, as I have done, will know that the seedling
is uprooted, taken off the water bed, and left on dry soil for two or three days.
If the plant has any sensitivity, and it has, it will feel a sense of threat
to life when the roots start to dry. When it is replanted into the soil, it sends
roots deep down into the soil with double vigor. The plant grows and will sometimes
yield eight-to-ten times as much rice as a plant that was not transplanted.
Newton never would have become the scientist he became had it not been for the
bully seated next to him in the last row in grammar school. It was the custom
in the school to be seated according to the students' standing in the class,
the bright ones in the first row and the dull ones in the last row. This bully
was slightly brighter than Newton and much stronger physically. Unable to stand
his persistent bullying, Newton, with a much smaller stature, but with greater
courage and determination, accepted the physical challenge and one day banged
the bully's head against the wall of the church. Having defeated him physically,
Newton decided to beat him intellectually which he did. In a few days, Newton
was at the top of the class.
Had it not been for his imprisonment, St. Paul would not have written the fourteen
epistles. Had it not been for the imprisonment of John Bunyan, he would not have
authored "Pilgrim's Progress". Had it not been for his fall from a
horse we would not have had Tolstoy's "War and Peace". Had it not been
for the early blindness that seized Helen Keller, she would not have been able
to contribute so much to improve the plight of the blind. Had it not been for
the early blindness of Louise Braille, Braille would never have been invented.
The life stories of all successful men are studded with challenges and adversities.
Therefore, what matters is to have confidence that every problem has a solution,
accepting the situation and finding ways to overcome it.
The measure of our lives is not how long we live or the amount of wealth we accumulate
during our lifetime, but how we live. When we contribute to the well-being of
our fellow men we vicariously enjoy their joy and happiness. Seeing the joy of
others because of our contribution is true joy. We do not live for ourselves,
nor does any living thing, even the trees and the animals. Everything has been
created for the benefit of other creations. The earlier we recognize this truth
the better it is and we can make a conscious and willing contribution.
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==============<><><><><><><><>=================
Dr. P.C. Simon is the author of "The Missing Piece to
Paradise". To learn more about this knowledgeable and
inspiring book visit www.interchange.ubc.ca/psimon/book2.htm
==============<><><><><><><><>=================
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ACTS 1:4
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On one occasion, while he was
eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not
leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised,
which you have heard me speak about."
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(NIV)
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