I heard it said recently the paradox of the gospel is the suffering and the joy.
The $64,000 question no one really has a good answer to is why does a God who is good and loving allow suffering. “Suffering” seems to be the topic on the minds of the collective subconscious in my world this week.
As we suffer through the most significant pandemic in many of our lifetimes, it’s good to remember that suffering is suffering. Comparing our own suffering to that of others is a slippery slope. Empathy is good. Discounting someone else’s suffering – or our own – because “as least they/we didn’t …” isn’t compassionate. Discounting someone’s suffering because “they just need to …” isn’t compassionate.
Today my suffering centers primarily on internet as slow as molasses, making photo uploads as slow as … however long it takes to ferment rum from molasses. Also my people are needing my time and resources. So I’m going to take my own advice to be compassionate with myself and cut things short today.
Here are some longer video thoughts related to suffering …
Ragamuffin Sundays this week featured Lisa Pay discussing mental health. I may be misquoting slightly, but about 25 minutes in she says, “Everything about the beatitudes is counterintuitive, but the beatitudes are the keys to the fruits of the spirit. We are blessed when we suffer.”
My friends Nick O’Connor and Sarah Goff each have new music. Sarah (follow her on the friendbook here) released a new video earlier this week. Nick (follow him here) drops his new video tomorrow.
My friend David shared a devotional message this morning on the Ragamuffin TV Facebook page.
BREAKING NEWS: Keep an eye on the Ragamuffin TV Facebook page (give it a like if you haven’t already). Very very soon the trailer for our new film God’s Fool will drop, along with instructions on how to rent/buy digitally. The first two movies in the trilogy, Ragamuffin and Brennan, will be made free to stream on premiere weekend as well. The announcement will be made live on the Facebook page.
