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Why We Suffer

Recently I realized that I think way too much about what I’m going to say to people who cause me, to be honest, just a mild inconvenience!

It’s a clue to an issue that isn’t fully worked out yet.

I remember being at a park one day when I was a boy. My brother was there, too, and another boy. I was smiling, and I believe it was the other boy who asked me, “Why are you smiling?”

I was just happy to be alive. Apparently that boy had already had his happiness snatched away. Mine would get snatched soon after.

Watch almost any child, and you can see that joy of being alive. What happens to it?

We are happy until a trauma or traumas interrupts that happiness. Something or shall I say someone tempts us to hate them, or we are tempted to be fearful, or ashamed, and once we fall to that temptation, it’s all over.

Our happiness, that is.

We then spend perhaps a lifetime in an attempt to reclaim it.

Changing Perspective

What we have done is change perspective. Where once we just lived–appreciating the beauty and magic all around us, now we use much of our energy to try to somehow retrieve what we have lost at the hand of the tempter. But we can never actually retrieve it from them.

But even in knowing that, we are still conditioned to try.

God created us to fall. How do I know that? Because what I’ve described happens to everybody. We are created innocent, but not strong enough to maintain that innocence. That can’t be by accident.

God knows that at some point, in order to “become like a child again,” we must “forgive those who trespass against us.”

I haven’t done that yet. At least not completely, though I’ve come a long way. I haven’t quite understood the mystery, and the magic of forgiveness. But I’m at a point where I see that my perspective is still flipped around–that I am still concerned with how others have hurt me, where I really know it’s time to let that all go, and see how I can be of help to others.

Those fleeting moments when I am able to see past myself, and seek what is good for others, are moments of lightness and gratitude. I seek more such moments.

Under Attack

As the vast majority of us are ego-driven beings, when people do try to help us, or when we sincerely try to help others, those we are seeking to help typically see our honesty as an attack–actually the opposite of what is taking place. In other words, we see backwards.

But the truth can penetrate, and once the heat of the moment passes, sometimes we can see the good intent. Of course, we are truly blessed when we can acknowledge the truth in the moment, which requires letting humility overcome our ego. These are blessed moments indeed.

A Remedy

Once I had made a real mess of my life (after I’d left my parents’ home and was now free to “sow my wild oats”) I knew I needed help. I went through several “self-help” paths, such as reading Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard, before latching onto several false Christian ministers who required no change from me–just what the insincere “seeker” is looking for!

Then I found a minister named Roy Masters who taught a meditation technique he had created, or as he put it, “rediscovered.” I had some early powerful experiences with this meditation, and I believe it likely saved my life. I later became associated with another minister who taught this meditation for a time.

Although it would be overstating the case to say that I became free of my anger and judgments against others through Roy Masters’ meditation, it is fair to say that it helped me a great deal, and many have said that it has been a great help for them too.

Meditation works by fostering objectivity to one’s thoughts, which has the effect of pulling us out of the quagmire of our mind.

I rarely practice this specific meditation at this point; I do a more simple version now, which is based on more literally following the instruction to “Be still and know, that I am God” (Psalms 46:10), but I do believe that Roy Masters’ meditation can help the sincere seeker, sometimes quite powerfully. At the very least, I believe it provides a firm foundation for our spiritual life.

Mr. Masters recently passed away at the age of 93, after a lifetime of helping others find themselves. To find out more about this meditation, go HERE.

A Word of Caution

As someone who literally spent decades associated with those who taught / teach meditation, I can tell you with assurance–meditation is a technique that can slow us down, and can focus us enough to be in a space to hear, but it is God who has the power to change, and I do believe, to save us too.

Further, and more important, men cannot save us, though I spent decades essentially believing that they could. The power that we give to mere men is something that very few men can handle. Almost all will take advantage of that power in one way or another.

Where does Jesus fit in?

You’ve heard that “Jesus saves.”

I do not claim to know everything about how Jesus saves us, but I do know that ministers cannot replace him as the one mediator between us and God. They are not qualified to do so, and cannot handle the responsibility. Many try though–unconsciously drawing the spiritually sick to them instead of to God.

No surprise the Bible warns over and over to be wary of false prophets.

Innocence Found

Actually, at this point in my life it feels like everything is finally coming together. Life can still be a challenge, and some days are better than others, but overall every day feels like a blessing–almost unreal in comparison to years past.

That boy who was happy just to be alive is returning. And it’s a beautiful thing to experience.

My wish is for you to find that happy, innocent boy or girl that you once were. It’s never too late. After all, you’re still alive, right? Never give up hope that you will find that blessed life again.

Patrick Rooney is the Founder of OldSchoolUs.com. He communicates clearly and fearlessly during perilous times about natural health, success, and freedom. To reach Patrick, email him at [email protected].

8 thoughts on “Why We Suffer”

  1. Hi Patrick,

    I thought about our conversation today and I have to say God did not create us to fail/fall. If that would be so his love would not be perfect. But God’s love is perfect and he did not create us to fall. Thinking along this line can lead to having a grudge against God. We do not want to fall prey to that.

    I want to share that with you.

    1. Thank you, John. Again, I do not mean that God ORIGINALLY created us to fail. I just mean that IN PRACTICE, He is well aware that every human being I’m aware of HAS failed, and I believe this is why He sent his son–to be a ransom for our sin in falling–so we would not be “judged and convicted,” and have a way back to Him through forgiveness for what was done to us–i.e. redemption. I hope that helps. Anyway, that’s the way I see it.

  2. Hi Patrick,

    I read your article a second time and one thing pupped in my eyes: God did not create us to fall.
    If our parents (mother) would not violate us und truly love us and watch over us in a sort of hands off fashion till we grow to be adults with their ever present love we would not experience trauma via their hands. Unfortunately such parents are very rare. I am tempted to say they don’t exist.

    I am still puzzled why you did not mention Jesse? You spent many years with him and he impacted your life. Maybe profoundly

    1. You’re right, John. Technically, God did not create us to fall, yet he must have known we would, and what I meant, was that (as you basically said), everyone I’m aware of has fallen, I believe, so we would need Jesus’ free gift of dying for our sins. In other words, the forgiveness / redemption experience seems to have been “baked into the cake.” And yes, I was profoundly influenced by some past associations. That’s all I will say at the moment.

  3. Hi Patrick,

    As I was reading what you wrote it occurred to me Patrick is writing about my life for the most part. It is very interesting that your life and my life happened quite differently but in the way I experienced it and what was important to me spiritually was very similar to a great extent. Especially right now when I look at my life and what is really important and what really matters we are heading in the same direction. You are describing it in great detail and really getting close to what really happened along the way and what is happening now. Not many people can do that or try to. I enjoyed reading it and appreciate your insightfulness and clarity. What is interesting that Jesse did not get mentioned. You spent quite a few years with him and have been close to him. I wonder about that?

    1. Thank you, John. I really appreciate your reply, and interesting that you tracked with my experience so close. Perhaps others did too? We (writers) put things out there and don’t know how people are taking them in unless we hear from them.

      I did not go into detail about all of my experiences and associations in this article. I will go into further detail as I feel it is useful / beneficial to myself and others.

  4. You are working too hard at this. The solution is to simply avoid unpleasantness. Avoid people and situations that are unpleasant. Spend your time with people who make you happy.

    I have been doing this for most of a decade and I am MUCH happier. Facebook gone. Twitter gone. Liberal friends and family gone. Unpleasantness gone.

    1. Thank you, Len. Where did you see my post? I’m not working hard at this at all, so I’m not sure exactly what you mean. I understand the desire to avoid people and situations that cause unpleasantness, but of course that can not always be accomplished, and sometimes “unpleasantness” is necessary for our growth. My two cents.

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