Rhythm & Roots

Monday, December 31, 2007

'And sometimes when the cry is intense, there emerges a radiance which elsewhere seldom appears: a glow of courage, of love, of insight, of selflessness, of faith. In that radiance we see best what humanity was meant to be...In the valley of suffering, despair and bitterness are brewed. But there also character is made. The valley of suffering is the vale of soul-making.'
Viktor Frankl

posted by Alain Emerson at 11:38 AM

5 Comments:

  • I always enjoy reading your blog. This year as an experiment I plan to select and read/comment on 10 specific blogs consistently rather than the scattergun approach I have had up to now. There are so many good blogs that it is hard to choose from! You are one of my chosen 10 (arn't you lucky! I look foward to your blog this year!

    Rodney Neill

    ( from ND CFC- I started to read your blog after you preached at our church)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At 12:56 PM  

  • 'The valley of suffering is the vale of soul making': This reminded of th poem by Mary Hathaway:

    Two Pierced Hands

    I had a sorrow so deep
    that human love could not penetrate
    its deepest recesses.
    I stumbled through the valley
    of suffering in my mind,
    down, down, into the depths of darkness.
    And there in the tearless pain
    I saw the hands outstretched.

    Two pierced hands-
    that was all I could see –
    two pierced hands
    held out to me.

    I knew that my sorrow was shared
    to the uttermost,
    that I did not stand alone in the darkness,
    that every part of my pain was understood.

    Two loving hands,
    that was all I could see –
    two loving hands
    held out to me.

    I felt no lessening of pain
    the stark reality of sorrow was still there,
    to be faced and lived with.
    But I was not alone.

    In healing silence
    two pierced hands had held mine
    in the depth of that darkness.

    Two sharing hands –
    that was all I had seen –
    two strong hands
    held out to me.

    By Blogger Question of Identity, At 3:59 PM  

  • I just wanted to say that your blog gives me the wake up call i need every so often when i lose sight of what is important in my life and get caught up in all the petty distratctions that life is so good at presenting. I hope in 2008 more people discover this blog and hear your story and see the power of gods love at work in your heart and life.

    you are a true man of god and a true inspiration.
    so thank you.

    Rebekah

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At 11:42 PM  

  • Great quote. Thanks so much for sharing it with all of us :-)

    By Blogger Rhea, At 4:51 AM  

  • This is truth. That radiance is Jesus who suffered gloriously! Thanks Al must catch up soon

    By Blogger joy, At 9:57 PM  

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