Pain and Glory

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." John 9: 1-3

I read this passage today within an anthology of teachings by a yoga guru. The guru then went on to claim that Jesus did not mean what Jesus said - that the man was born blind "that the works of God might be displayed." The guru insisted instead that the sin of past reincarnations created the disability. He claimed an all compassionate God would not put pain upon a person who did not deserve it.

This must make sense from the perspective of the guru, but I must disagree - from my own point of view, which is woefully, and obviously, devoid of guru credientials.

You see, I do think that a compassionate God allows all kinds of pain to exist in our lives, even the kind of pain that is not "our fault." I also think God knows that these situations hurt us - in any manner of ways - and that we so often view these circumstances as bad, unforunate, and undeserved.

I reconcile a loving God with a God who would knowingly allow us to be hurt. Why?

I suppose it's because I see no reason why we should somehow win the lottery on a trouble-free life, free from pain, numb from worry, and devoid of challenge. I view troubles and tests as, in a non-self-help way, opportunities to build character, develop empathy, take responsibility, and become more deeply aware of our blessings.

For instance, I have a headache right now, and it's a pain, but it's also an opportunity to make sure I've had enough water to drink today (in case it's been caused by dehydration) and a chance to practice being cheerful and good to others in the absence of an absolutely ideal scenario...because, really, when is it ever all absolutely ideal?

It was not ideal for my grandmother to have to teach herself to walk again, nor is it ideal for my mother to have to teach my kindey to get along with her body, but these are pains that will live as legacies of courage and as affirmations of life for generations in my family. They display how God is greater than pain, greater than anything that would try to destroy us, because God is still with us in the pain and God will help us overcome it.
So I think too that, yes, when we feel in life, pain or joy, this provides us with a unique opportunity to interact with God, to allow God to walk with us in good times and bad, so that we depend on God when we cannot on ourselves, and we give credit to God when it is not our own to claim.

I am not sure how I would feel as the blind man who could suddenly see after Jesus healed him. I do not know if I would feel ripped off or honored to be such a character placed in that role. I do know though, that my personal pains and weaknesses make me human, so that I can relate to others. I do know that they remind me how fragile and dynamic and beautiful life is. I know they encourage me to assess if I am taking  care of myself, as a steward of a body, mind and soul - gifts given to me and not inventions of my own. I know that if I never knew pain, I would never know its opposite.

Most importantly, I know that I do not know all that God is up to. I respect that I can not reason or predict or instinctually tune into the exact way that a perfect God loves us perfectly. I just know - through it all - the love is there for all of us.