Suffering Arrives

When suffering enters my life,
the world around me does not
change. I do.

There is still joy in the world,
even though I am sad. There
is peace while I feel anger and
resentment. There is light even
as I live in darkness. Hope still
exists, regardless of my hopelessness.

Beauty thrives, though I see
ugliness. I suffer but the world
remains unmoved. I curse. I
contend. I challenge.

I accept.

And then, by God’s grace and mercy,
I begin to translate my own suffering
into a deeper level of understanding,
a new attitude toward the antagonism.
I acknowledge the unexpected guest
and make a place for him in my life,
not regarding him as foe, but as
friend.

And as that occurs, all the things
I assumed lost slowly return;
light appears and flowers begin
to bloom in my heart.