'Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad - for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to the world.' 1 Peter 4:12-13
The Murray Valley is one of Australia's bread baskets. Fed by waters from the Murray river, this basin is lush with vineyards, olive groves and fruit orchards. From 10-16 Oct 2008, all 6 of us, Pat, Becky and I, John, Debbie and James, shared the rural pastoral experience of a town named Yarrawonga. It is located at the dam across the Murray River and Lake Mulwara.
We swam, kayaked down the river, golfed, visited farms and wineries. The perceptive visitor will sense that there is a certain dryness, a land hardened by drought in this particular part of Australia.
The shop-owner who rented to us two kayaks informed that the drought had so far lasted 10+ years. He had stopped taking tourist for kayaking tours because the interesting creeks along the river had all dried up. A farmer's wife at the Uniting Church where we worshipped, that Sunday informed Pat that the smaller farms had to burn their crops if there was insufficient rain. The church members are all senior citizens. They were so pleased to see us and to hear baby James cry in church. The younger people had long left the area to seek their fortunes in Melbourne or Sydney.
Droughts are hard times especially for a farming community but the week we were at Yarrawonga, coincided with the global financial crisis making it worse. Banks failed, the stock markets crashed and a global recession loomed. Many governments had to step in and underwrite their national banks. Australia was no exception. We can expect many people to suffer huge financial losses.
Kevin Rudd, then Prime Minister of Australia, rallied the Australians to tide over the global financial crisis with these words. "Anyone who grew up on the land knows that you can't control the weather," he declared. "Sunshine every day and rainy nights. That's what you dream of. But life's not like that. There are good years and there are hard years. And you don't choose the order in which they come. But the hard years teach you never to give up." Kevin Rudd was not just politicising but referring to character building; hard times whether in farms or in corporate rooms can bring out the best in character provided one learns life's lessons humbly.
Through these times, we learnt the bitter lesson that life wasn't meant to be easy. Christians despite our special relationships with God can fall on hard times too. Our faithfulness and the promised blessings do not shelter us from the hard knocks of life. Chapter 12 of the Book of Hebrews writes of discipline imposed on God's children and encourages us to withstand and overcome it,
'No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been through it.' Hebrews 12:11
We admire people who can go through very trying periods and still retain their sense of humour and sanity. The character, Guido in the film 'Life Is Beautiful' is a case study. Guido, goes to extraordinary lengths to convince his son that navigating life under the Nazis in the concentration camp is actually all an elaborate game. His behaviour in times of great suffering is comical and amuses his son, the narrator in the film who described his Dad's ruse as 'his gift to me.'
Roger Ebert the film critic noted that in the real death camps there would be no role for, the comic, Guido. Ebert wrote, "But Life Is Beautiful is not about Nazis and Fascists, but about the human spirit. It is about rescuing whatever is good and hopeful from the wreckage of dreams. About hope for the future." The critic Tom Dawson wrote "the film is presumably intended as a tribute to the powers of imagination, innocence, and love in the most harrowing of circumstances,"
St Augustine, in his book the 'City of God' spoke of suffering and opined that what matters is not the nature of the suffering, what matters is the nature of the sufferer. Bishop (Dr) Robert Solomon wrote in his book, The Race(Ref 1), “In suffering, we need to find meaning. We need to also find love. It is difficult to suffer alone and many people feel they do. But we are not really alone when we suffer. God offers us His loving presence.” Bishop wrote on, “And when we allow Him to walk with us, we will find that suffering is redemptive. It changes us and makes us like Him. It gives depth and brings new life.”
St Paul wrote in Romans Chapter 8,
'I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the the glory that will be revealed in us...For we all know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purposes... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:18,28,35 and 37
Matt Redman wrote a song, 'It is Well with My Soul' which is describes the relationship of Christians with suffering and the grace and blessing it can bring.
Our scars are a sign
Of grace in our lives
Oh Father, how you brought us through
When deep were the wounds
And dark was the night
The promise of your love you proved
Now every battle still to come
Let this be our song
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
Weeping may come
Remain for a night
But joy will paint the morning sky
You're there in the fast
You're there in the feast
Your faithfulness will always shine
Now every blessing still to come
Let this be our song
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
I trust your ways (trust your ways)
I trust your name (trust your name)
It is well, it is well with my soul
You lead us through battles
(You lead us through battles)
You lead us to blessing
(you lead us to blessing)
And you make us fruitful
(and you make us fruitful)
In the land of our suffering, God
Lionel
Ref 1. Robert M Solomon, The Race – Finding the Real Journey in Life. Genesis Books 2008
Updated 1st Published Nov 2008
