The purpose of suffering

My beautiful friend MaryAnn Fry has published an inspiring post which I encourage everyone to read. She publishes a letter written to Leonard Cohen by a woman about the impact his song “Hallelujah” had on her – it brought tears to my eyes and my heart.

After the letter MaryAnn says, “Yesterday I saw a question in a spiritual writing forum, and I almost responded, defensively. They asked, “Why would God create a world where suffering exists?” God didn’t create suffering, of this I am sure. God did gift us with grace to not only endure suffering, but to be transformed by it.”

Suffering as a Sacred Renewal

About Post Author

Kristina Kaine

Kristina Kaine has worked with people all her life: during her early career in medical sales and staff recruitment, and since 1987 in her own business which matches people in business partnerships. Through this rich interaction with people, Kristina has observed the struggle for self identity from many angles. She was awakened to the ideas of Rudolf Steiner by Rev Mario Schoenmaker, attending all of Schoenmaker's lectures for 14 years. After Schoenmaker's death in 1997, Kristina realised the need to explain the knowledge of the threefold human being in simple terms that could be applied easily in daily life. She has set this out in her book, 'I Connecting : the Soul's Quest', which was published in 2007 by Robert Sardello through Goldenstone Press. It is not unusual for Kristina to receive comments about her book like this: "It seems like a very lucid treatment, like looking through a clear glass window through which one can discover and recognize the landscape of the soul." Since 2003 Kristina has written weekly reflections which apply this knowledge of the threefold human being to Bible texts. This is not done in the context of any particular religious beliefs but from a broader perspective that all religions could apply. These reflections are distributed by email and are read worldwide. They are now available as Kindle books.