In his majestic poem, “Ode on Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood”, William Wordsworth writes:
Then sing, ye Birds, sing, sing a joyous song!
And let the young Lambs bound
As to the tabor’s sound!
We in thought will join your throng,
Ye that pipe and ye that play,
Ye that through your hearts to-day
Feel the gladness of the May!
What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death,
In years that bring the philosophic mind.
In short, Wordsworth is saying that we will be able to join the sweet songs of the birds by reflecting on our common struggle with them. It is often said that suffering is the megaphone of God to the world to wake up. This is one way of putting it, for sure. But I believe that suffering wraps us up in her arms to soften us to the plight of Creation. We realize that we are not the only ones int he struggle.
Studies have shown that groups of people who go through great suffering together are more tightly bonded than other groups that simply exist together. Think Army platoons.
So it is with us. If we open our arms and realize the common struggle we all share, we will find joy. Not in spite of the suffering, but in the suffering.
Instead of “getting through this season of suffering,” I pray you learn to embrace it and gaze upon it and let it be a sowing of hope in your life.