Walking along one day, I began to feel the raindrops on my face. This worried me a little, as the clouds above were pretty heavy and grey, and I was still some distance from my destination (a hospital). But it was the afternoon, and despite the heavy grey canopy directly above, the afternoon sun was shining bright amber under the clouds.
It struck me that the same storm that threatened to soak me miserably would very likely create a beautiful, bright rainbow for anyone watching from few kilometers out to the west…
“One man’s storm is another man’s rainbow”
I began to wonder how often this might prove true…
One man dies painfully from lung cancer; another man is frightened into quitting smoking.
One man has a horrible car accident; thousands slow down and drive more carefully.
One man fails his interview for job; another man’s family will now be able to afford proper food and clothing.
One man dies fighting a bushfire; hundreds of lives and homes are saved.
One man is mutilated fighting in a war; a whole country is protected from invasion.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons God permits us to suffer. Perhaps the good we buy for others with our suffering is all the more precious and wonderful for the price that has been paid for it, especially if that price is paid willingly, joyfully and with genuine unselfish love.
So the next time you benefit from someone else’s sacrifice, stop and think about that person and say a little prayer for them. And the next time things are not going well for you, think about this: without you knowing, someone else’s hope may be growing because of your storm’s rainbow…
PPFM
Fr Ant
How true! I guess sometimes we are too self-centered to notice. If we loved all our neighbours as ourselves, we might be able to sympathize with those suffering and yet, remain objective. I think that is the beauty of Christianity- our God does not deny suffering- He embraces it. And by us embracing the cross, a greater glory of the Kingdom is manifest? It reminds me of that beautiful “fraction to the Son for anytime”.
“O, my Saviour, let me cherish Your suffering as my treasure, Your crown of thorns as my glory, Your pains as my joy, Your myrrh as sweetness in my mouth, Your Blood as my life and Your love as my honour and gratitude.”
Thanks Abouna.
PPFM
Wow that’s beautiful…
I can even apply it to the HSC!
My ‘suffering’ will soon (hopefully) be turned into something I can give and use to help others (in whichever way that may happen)…
It’s not as simultaneous as the storm and the rainbow… It’s more like a storm that norishes plant life (well, it’s meant to, unless the rainwater’s too acidic in which case it could toxicate the soil and make it impossible for specific plants to grow… hmm…)
Sorry, evidently I’m not very good at this.
(Abouna, I am by no means contradicting the “Exams are fun” policy… I do believe that exams are fun- if you study for them… it’s the studying that’s no fun…)
I hope that made some sence lol
You people are weird…I am having palpitations; insomnia refractory to BDZ hypnotics (not that they help with the quality either); tinintis, which I am sure is just imaginary, and I panic every week when I have a sore-throat or a hint of a change in anything, knowing I am getting my monthly flu, so I race and overdose on prophylactic stuff…lol. My GP wanted to prescribe me a “ch-ee-l pill” – I have been looking in MIMs and AMH and can’t find it :P. (And yes, I am a hypochondriac med student).
God bless Monika. I will pray for you 🙂 If you can fathom how in the world Exams can be fun, then you have got to be doing something good. I punched out my wall and had panic attacks when I was doing the HSC (well I don’t quite fit the criteria in DSM IV, but that doesn’t bother me).
By the way, can’t stress the importance of following the syllabus, and just constantly revising everything again and again. Oh, and boredofstudies.org or something has some pretty good notes. I think developing good notes is half the battle (if you work that way). English essays: put a lot of effort in making a template really good- bug your English teacher to the max in making them perfect. It actually does help to read every book twice with post-it notes and scribbled notes in the margin (converted to a list of notes on paper)! Or at least note the important chapters (with all the techniques) when you read it the first time. And do not make the classical mistake of using confusing and silly words from the thesaurus lol- pick words that actually communicate what you want. Everything you mention must have a a technique, evidence, and thus an idea. Actually have a good look at excellent essays- no matter if the topic is unrelated, and adopt the style that you think would best communicate your argument. For maths, you should be studying it everyday lol. I loved maths, so I might be a tad prejudiced. I used to study it for 2-3 hrs everyday- at least. If you are doing science: syllabus is everything.
And, lastly, do not forget God. I had times when I did- and they were the worst. When I thought all my dreams were shattered, if it were not for Christ, I don’t know what would have happened- nor could I comfortably think.
This is a nice article on anxiety, though I don’t think you will need it :): http://www.coptichymns.net/module-library-viewpub-tid-1-pid-495.html
PPFM
Exams are the bestest part!
That’s when you get to show off all the stuff you spent HOURS (me= minutes on the morning bus) learning…
It’s almost like doing this brainless activity… like watching TV…. ?
And then there’s the massive opportunities of expressing creativity! I LOVE MAKING STUFF UP! and you know what i love even more? getting marks for MAKING STUFF UP!!! HAHAHA.
Well… I can’t really describe what goes on in my exams very well because, well, I’m never really present. I feel like I walk in, walk out, and everything else is just a blur. There were some exceptions, times when I trusted my own knowledge or when I didn’t trust Gods.
Thanks for the anxiety thing, I’ll read it soon as I’m done… and just for the record, I DO NEED IT! lol. My anxiety is usually very subtle in a way… like in the sence that I take it out on my family and friends and only discover it when I do absolutely anything to waste my time. Like now for example, it’s 12:09 am, I have a chemistry assignment due in the morning and it needs about a week worth of work.
That reminds me, I should get back to it. Oh and I LOVE maths too! Not 2-3 hrs daily love… but there’s something there.
Pray for me!
All I want is my sanity (if it still exists)!
BTW I didn’t understand any of the medical stuff in there?
Rabena ma3ako!
I read similar article also named Two Sides of the Rainbow, and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me