Photo by Noel Nichols on Unsplash
Many of us, if not all, have experienced pain. I am not referencing the type of feeling that is mildly annoying or bothersome though. Some of us have felt a deep ache for so long we begin to wonder if there ever was a time this slow pulse didn’t live within us, maybe it was always there. Then others have suffered, and suffering brings not that dull throb, or pounding in your ears, but a pulsating pain that you must fight to live with, even if by fighting you dare to just breathe.
Greek Mythology dates to the Minoan civilization of Crete and think older than The Old Testament, think the Creation of the Universe where Titans Reign, Birth of the Olympians and the Minoans, known for their Bronze Age cities likely looked up at the same stars of Orion’s belt a few of us still take an important moment to find. Connecting suffering to wisdom dates to a time when Socrates began the great teaching of asking questions to provoke thought rather than lecturing thoughts. Socrates challenged his students and suffering can be challenging, provoking us. This feeling we will sometimes have to take in, let it wrap us like a cloak, endure the pain, and remain in complete control.
Pain this intense, our bodies and minds protect us mostly, but not always. I embraced sorrow for what felt like forever, it took on its own heartbeat and I did not join forces with its pain and maddening thinking. I also did not stare it down after fate had called, as if I alone could stare the devil down himself through ignorance or pretense. I silently fought the pain I fell into accountability. This was wise for me, likely something that was already written in the stars or I often think an action to a reaction changed my course and I did to, slowly.
The tale of Pandora’s box has always fascinated me and throughout my life it has told me something new and different from the time before. This myth also happens to be both the most familiar story of Greek Mythology and the most misunderstood. Pandora was created because Zeus was punishing the gods. This tale has been said to reinforce many lessons including the reverent nature of obedience and its need not be broken or misused. My takeaway today and from now on, with the painful wisdom I gained, is that underneath suffering, from so much bad, there waiting for you is hope.
Meg Sanger – Midwest hopeful writer with Chicago roots turned happy West Michigander near Lake Michigan in the same perfect tourist town where she grew up spending perfect summers with her grandparents. Married, proud mother of three children who encourages creativity and motivation to live with purpose and sincerity. Fierce advocate for justice and imagines a world where she might be able to dedicate most of her time to writing. The Sanger family has two dogs that walk her and there is a creative project in the works.