Pain

JUNE 25, 1979, 5:20 AM

Pain is a worthy topic, o son of Mine. It deals both with your professional concerns and with your personal, spiritual ones. Verily, pain is “of the spirit.”

Yes, note first that pain definitely is part of the rhythm of life. You feel pain infrequently, while your sister lives with constant pain. So the two of you certainly have different rhythms in this regard. Pain is, in most instances, an attention-getter. The rhythm of health as full functioning is interrupted by something, and pain draws your attention to that change. You then must decide either to do something to relieve the pain or simply bear it as necessary.

It is part of health to have pain… part of health to relieve pain… part of health to bear pain. Rhythm. When is the time?

Yes, what We are talking about is physical pain, like that from your right thumb and from your left little finger… that got your early morning attention on this aspect of My creation. Pain, of course, is part of My creation. Some pain is a natural result of some accident or infection… a warning. I can ease pain, but sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. Each is a justice and mercy situation. If pain is deserved and appropriate I let it be… even against prayer. But I can also always show mercy. I like to relieve pain. But… sometimes it is not wise so to do.

Personal reaction to pain is interesting to Me as I see it in My creations. Some can bear much pain and can function quite well. Others succumb to even bits of pain and stop everything to feel sorry for themselves. And many shades between.

Reaction to pain is part of lifestyle. Each of you reacts “characteristically”, with variations caused by the severity and by the presence of other people. Some tend to bear pain better when others are present. Others bear it worse. That, too, is part of the rhythm.

But, as your mind has been telling you, the reaction to pain is a thing of the spirit, and pain in the spirit is the most difficult with which to deal. If your spirit is attuned to My Spirit closely pain can be experienced as another evidence of Me. (The example of Ramdas is still a fine one.) Your spirit can think My Spirit for another different evidence of being. It is fundamental to be thankful for simply being. And pain can trigger that.

Or, with Spiritual maturity, you can accept pain as a price for certain behavior or as the evidence that the world is functioning correctly. And this merits thanks, too. Spiritual maturity is selflessness. Without this, pain accentuates selfishness, and people throw away what faith they have and become like unto crying children. This is sad to me. But true.

The pain of most significance is pain in the spirit. The fundamental cause of this is distance from Me. Walking closely with Me is the most effective pain reliever… or pain preventer… in existence. Oh, I may cause you some pain, but if you are walking with Me you are aware of this and appreciate its obvious or potential values. That is healthy pain… the pain from being stretched and used… as that from some good volleyball games. But you who walk closely with Me simply don’t realize what pain this prevents… the pain that others feel as they grope with their own resources.

Being removed from Me is painful. Some people bear this pain well… live almost as if there were no pain. But many feel the pain and hurt from it. The forms of relief attempted are many… both sad and amusing. Some forms seem to work, temporarily. But the ultimate resolution is in what you do now, in the way I have chosen – walk humbly with Me. Be aware of Me, My ways, and My influences. Appreciate My contributions, My wisdom, My advice. Know ye that the Lord He is good. That is pain-relieving and pain preventing knowledge.

You have pains (Yes, do something for your thumb) but none of any consequence. Appreciate and deal with the ones I cause. Be aware this day.

Shalom
6:25 AM