People wonder why I have such an

unhealthy obsession with

human suffering and frailty,

as if there were some other mystery,

some other unfathomable principle in the universe

more puzzling, infuriating, and crucial

to the human experience.

“Tell me,” I ask,

with some trace of smugness,

“What drives the human spirit more,

reaches out to the heart of the divine

and the depths of hell,

what creates a more genuine sentiment

than the paradox of pain?”

 

And how can one word be more disarming,

more flabbergasting to all the carefully

worded philosophical rhetoric of my life

than this:

“Joy.”

?

Somehow, I never imagined that the pursuit

of one could lead to the other in such

a profound,

mystical,

and

deliciously

perfect

way.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1