I don’t even recall where I saw it, but I recently jotted down a quote that really got my attention.
It’s attributed to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who lived from 1844 to 1900: “To live is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in the suffering.”
That’s an extremely profound statement, based on an extremely weighty concept. Basically, it amounts to accepting challenges and hardship and plowing ahead in their face like a team of horses in a snowstorm.
After all, suffering is a natural and common part of existing as a human being. Nobody can avoid it and each and every one of us will deal with multiple forms of pain, loss and heartache at multiple stages of life.
Our only choice is to “deal with it,” and it’s the process of finding purpose within that recurring adversity that leads a person to truly survive (and even thrive).
Nietzsche is also said to be responsible for another great quote that’s even more familiar to us: “That which doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”
Both of these proclamations adeptly portray how life will test a person’s mettle. Both depict that it’s no bed of roses, no perpetual walk in the park, and there’s no way to navigate it without a significant amount of effort. On the contrary, trials and tribulations will inevitably and unexpectedly arise – often at a moment’s notice – and will often require a person’s full attention.
This is a Biblical concept, too. The Apostle Paul nailed it in Romans 5:3-4.
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Obviously, it’s not always easy to “glory in our sufferings,” but it’s a fact that they can and will lead to positive aftermath. And that’s the point Paul and Nietzsche were making; the challenge is to recognize the constructive and valuable aspects of what is learned by dealing with life’s difficulties and utilize those aspects in a productive and beneficial way.
Again, that’s not likely to be easy. Actually, the odds are highly against it being easy.
But it can be done, because that’s the way God planned it.
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.