The Power of Pain
Pain.
Conjures up many ideas – mostly negative ones. You may think of your back, an old injury that plays up. You may think of emotional pain. It may be something that never seems to go away.
The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain this way:
“an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.”
Unpleasant doesn’t really do it justice.
But as with all experiences, it does teach us something.
We remember we are vulnerable.
We remember we are fragile.
We realise we are reliant.
These are unpleasant reminders.
Because we like to think we are independent. Strong. Resilient. But the truth is we are never far off from needing help.
Recently my parents were in a car accident. If there was ever a time to think about mortality it was then. They were extremely blessed to be alive. But they were not spared pain.
Sometimes I wonder why this was. Why some people walk away from a terrible car accident completely unharmed while others suffer terrible injuries.
I suppose the one who walks away scot-free will get insurance money, buy a new car and then occasionally recount their incredible luck at a dinner table conversation. But for others there will be no forgetting their vulnerability. And perhaps one day we will all be the more thankful for the reminders.
