Better Than Me...

Reality checks are a necessary commodity in life, especially when our mood gives way to instances of narcissistic self-pity. In the midst of a darker life that the many experience every day, it helps us to remember how actually good we have it.

Better than me:

þ Is the young soldier who toured Afghanistan to serve his country, which is enough of a sacrifice without knowledge of the fact of the disabling injury that ended his tour and life as he once knew it. He thought nothing of the common pleasures available for a man his age and gave them up so decent civilisation might be defended. Ongoing bodily pain is shrift relief, and a humbling reminder, for contemplation that peers had it worse and died on a foreign desert. He battles through his disability and finds ways to help and inspire others.

þ Is the 10-year-old girl bullied ceaselessly at school, one who is painfully shy and awkwardly conscious of the road ahead; there is no support within her family structure; indeed, there is much abuse in that home; her courage is poignant in trudging onward despite the aggression she will face today. She has fought the temptation to self-harm. She will continue to. Life is an immense grind but, soon, some day, the meaning to life will be revealed—she will reach out and find saving faith in Jesus.

þ Is the woman, who, five years ago, was beaten, physically and sexually, but still wakes with hope for healing, almost every single morning. There are mornings when she can’t get out of bed, but there are no ultimate give-ins; no prolonged thought for pity beyond shadowy hope. She has learned to pray. God has become real for her—no matter what other people say. Faith has made a difference. And though she carries the marks of her injuries within her, she insists upon believing this week is better than the last.

***

All of these people above have, and had, significantly more reason to complain or give up considering the vast tumults that life has meted out to them, than I, though I do not begrudge them the sanctity of suffering having experienced divorce beyond choice myself.

God fills me with awe at the courage of the multitudes of unfortunate ones whom battle, in so many ways, for a normal life because of what has occurred; things often so desperately final.

Resilience is a life choice, but it needs to be inspired. Let our inspiration be cast, then, upon the stories of everyday heroes and heroines who battled calamitous adversities and show us, today, getting through the depths of hell to a better life is achievable for anyone.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.