“Consider, children ... the pain of touching the tip of your finger to your mother's stove, even for a fraction of a second. That is an experience which most of you have suffered. Now try to imagine that pain, not simply on a fingertip but spread over the whole surface of your body, and not for a mere second, but everlastingly. That, children, is hellfire.” TryingChildrenWholeBodyPainMotherHellImagineMereFingersSpreadSurfaceYour BodyTouchingImagine ThatFractionsFingertipsStoves Book:The Rector of Justin Source: The Rector of Justin
“We have the tendency to judge others by their surface appearance, and to find only their negative qualities. But if we search beneath the surface we discover that a myriad of strains mix together to create a particular person's nature. The faults we perceive are likely to be the effect of circumstances, the psychological response to trauma, abuse, rejection, heartbreak, insecurity, pain, confusion, or disease.” IfsPersonsPainTogetherQualityEffectsParticularJudgingCircumstancesDiseaseNegativeAbuseFaultsResponseAppearanceTraumaSurfaceConfusionTendenciesPsychologicalPerceiveRejectionInsecurityStrainBeneath The Surface Author:Radhanath Swami
“Within each experience of pain or negativity is the opportunity to challenge the perception that lies behind it, the fear that lies behind it, and choose to learn with wisdom. The fear will not vanish immediately, but it will disintegrate as you work with courage. When fear ceases to scare you, it cannot stay. When you choose to learn through wisdom, to evolve consciously, your fears surface one at a time in order for you to exorcise them with inner faith. This is how it happens. You exorcise your own demons.” WisdomHappensPainLyingTimeFaithOrderOpportunityFearChallengesWorkBehindsCourageLearningPerceptionExperienceSurfaceCeaseEvolveDemonScareYou ChooseNegativity Book:The Seat of the Soul: 25th Anniversary Edition with a Study Guide Source: The Seat of the Soul: 25th Anniversary Edition with a Study Guide
“Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched by pain tend to be shallow in their perspectives on life. Suffering, on the other hand, tends to plow up the surface of our lives to uncover the depths that provide greater strength of purpose and accomplishment. Only deeply plowed earth can yield bountiful harvests.” PeopleCharacterHandsEarthPainPurposeSufferingGreaterOur LivesPerspectiveSorrowDepthSurfaceAccomplishmentYieldShallowHarvestSufferings In Life Author:Billy Graham