Balm of Gilead

One of the purposes of our suffering is to help us connect with other people. Suffering is our common bond. No matter where we live on this planet, we will inevitably experience suffering to a greater or lesser degree.

Times of collective suffering bring a community or group together as times of joy simply cannot do. A shared experience that is tragic or stressful forces us to reach out to others both to comfort and to seek comfort. It is human nature to want to integrate a monumental experience into our understanding by speaking about it with other people. In doing so, we come to a shared vision of the event and gain comfort by knowing we're not alone.

Individual suffering also prompts us to reach out for help. We want to know that someone else has experienced what we are going through, so that we can be certain we are not crazy or singled out. Having someone else who has "been there" is like having a guide as you navigate a rocky pathway along the face of a cliff. While you must make the journey alone, their experience can help you proceed more surely and avoid wasted effort or mis-steps.

One of the things we do as humans is cry together during times of adversity. It is my belief that our shared tears are the balm that helps us heal. Just knowing that someone else is trying to understand what you're going through, and that they care about you during your trials, can be enough to keep you in the fight, until you overcome your hard times.