Friday, September 21, 2007
Today during King Lear lecture, Ms G once again talked about molding of a person through suffering- how Lear and Gloucester had to go through that to learn from their mistakes. Then when we looked at Lear's and Gloucester's deaths, one of the questions asked was, did they finally learn?
She used the analogies of sword making, pottery, and giving birth to point out that pain and suffering is a way of molding us. Talking to Mum in the car, she commented that it was also like King Nebuchadnezzar whom God made mad, and let him suffer in some sense. (i feel so ashamed, mum never did King Lear and she could draw this link =S )
"The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' [feathers], and his nails like birds' [claws]. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:" - Dan 4:33-34
So suffering is meant to let us know that something is wrong [with us], and to help us realise things about ourselves, and mold us into Christ-likeness. Wow. Reminds of Deqi's BS teaching on suffering. (see DQ! I paid attention and rmb what you taught!) He used Moses as an example then. But it's really amazing everytime i encounter this idea, whether in school or in the Bible, to become nothing so to achieve something. I've yet to experience such a thing. Man, i feel so pampered. The only pain i ever went through would probably be caning from my parents when i was younger. =S Guess i would really need to learn how to give myself up for God so that he can use me.
Was reminded of this song when Ms G mentioned mothers going through pain to give birth to new life.
Beauty from painThe lights go out all around me
One last candle to keep out the night
And then the darkness surrounds me
I know I'm alive
But I feel like I died
And all that's left is to accept that it's over
My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made
I try to keep warm but I just grow colder
I feel like I'm slipping away
After all this has passed
I still will remain
After I've cried my last
There'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today
Someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain
My whole world is the pain inside me
The best I can do is just get through the day
When life before is only a memory
I wonder why God lets me walk through this place
And though I can't understand why this happened
I know that I will when I look back someday
And see how you've brought beauty from ashes
And made me as gold purified through these flames
After all this has passed
I still will remain
After I've cried my last
There'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today
Someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain
Here I am at the end of me
Trying to hold to what I can't see
I forgot how to hope
This night's been so long
I cling to your promise
There will be a dawn
After all this has passed
I still will remain
After I've cried my last
There'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today
Someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. - Matt 16:25Teach me to give myself up for you oh Lord.
