"You are a masochist," said my co-worker as we were on an afternoon break. "I think you enjoy pain."
We were walking through the park near our workplace. He had asked about my plans for the weekend and I was telling him about my running goals for the weekend. I mentioned that I liked running up and down hills since it is more rewarding. I also said that I wanted to keep working on the elevation, climbing steeper and steeper hills.
"You like the pain," he said.
I laughed.
But inside, I knew that he was onto something. No, I don't really enjoy pain. No, it isn't like I'm asking for pain. But something has changed. How I respond to pain is a little different. How I respond to the potential for pain is a little different.
I may be speaking about running but I'm also speaking about life.
Life is pain.
Well, that sounds encouraging! :) But it is. We don't want to admit it. We don't want to "name it and claim it." We don't want to confess it. But life is pain. Life is adversity. Life is challenging. Life is full of difficulties and obstacles.
And what do we desparately attempt to do? Avoid pain. Avoid it at all costs.
We think, "Life should be comfortable. Life should be good. Life should be blessings, happiness, and M&M's all around." The good life. Money. Success. Things. Health.
Somehow, if it isn't all those things, then something is wrong. If it isn't those things, then we need to get rid of those problems and get back to the carefree life we all know is our constitutional right.
No pain, no gain. We've heard it many times in the context of exercise.
But do we believe it concerning life?
Does that rub our theology the wrong way?
Aren't we supposed to be blessed and favored?
Honestly, how is it that we view pain, difficulties, challenging seasons, hard times? Do we want to avoid those at all costs? Do we try to just get through them very quickly if we can't completely avoid them? Do we look down on others when they are going through those things? Do we secretly think, like Job's friends, that something must be wrong with them for being in a difficult time?
"You are a masochist," he said. "You like the pain."
It really hit me. I don't avoid the pain. I know those hills will hurt. I know my legs will feel it. I know it is far easier to run on smooth, flat paved roads.
But I realized I don't want to run from the challenge. I don't want to avoid it. I don't want to always take the easy route.
I know that the hills, the pain, the challenges will help me. Help me physically. Help me mentally. Perhaps even help me spiritually (as I pray asking God to please, please help me up the hill.)
For many years I tried to avoid any pain. I tried to avoid conflict. I tried to convince myself and others that all was good. I stuffed the pain down and pressed on.
But that is not healthy. Mentally, physically, or spiritually.
"... In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world," said Jesus in John 16:33.
Take a look at His life. Take a look at the lives of His disciples. Or the early followers of Christ. Or any strong Christian leader over their lifetime. I can guarantee you that every single one of them had some pain, some difficulties, some heartache.
Every. One.
When pain, hardship, and sufferings come, what do we really do? What really is our prayer? Is it, "God, get me out of this?"
"Yet, not my will but yours be done."
There is something for us to learn through the challenges. God wants to teach us. Continually avoiding it is like the person who never exercises because she is afraid of having sore muscles.
Our perspective in the midst of the challenge is crucial. Don't run from it.
There is nothing like the feeling after a successful run. Running through the pain, making it up and down the hills, overcoming the doubts.
There is nothing like making it through a difficult season. Still having the proper perspective. Not giving up. Not quitting. But being changed by the adversity - which was the purpose of it all.
