How easy it is to falsely measure our fortunes. When we have more money, health, honor, or pleasure, are we winning? Not necessarily, for our ills and fortunes are tests, not grades.
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things…And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But…he rebuked Peter, saying…
Thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Even the chief apostle, Peter, early in his growth, found it hard to savor or value what was best. To savor the wrong things guarantees unhappiness. Suffering is a time to reeducate our hopes, our savoring reflexes. It offers us an elevated spot above the landscape, a rare view, a chance at real wisdom. But haste and self-pity can deny us the solemn and sweet fruit of wisdom, just when it is ripe. In haste, we forget to reflect. In self-pity, we ask the wrong questions.
To ask, Why does this have to happen to me?...will lead you into blind alleys,…Rather ask, What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience?
What am I to change? Whom am I to help?
To learn from adversity, we need to slow down, kneel down, listen carefully, and consult the sacred books. We even make our own sacred record, a book of remembrances and reflections. We can consider the suffering of those around us. We can think about him who bore all burdens.
In the day of adversity consider.
If we consider well, without haste and self-pity, the Father’s mind will at length whisper to ours. We will see past the outward, we will be settled, even in the smallest holdings and poorest fortunes. We will know that an outward loss opens the door to inner gain.
The emergency in your life may invite my life into action. You will then be like the blind man who helped others to see. If we consider well, we may see the mission in our submission.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.
Not far from our life’s lessons is the Teacher. We endure his lessons well by considering them well, by trusting him, and living what he teaches.
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