A Book Review

A few weeks ago I picked up a book titled Making Sense of Suffering by Wayne Brickley. I finished reading the book this weekend and while I can't say that I really recommend it, I can say that it had some really good perspective. I didn't necessarily feel overwhelmingly inspired after I read it - in fact, I felt slightly guilty for having some of the feelings I experience on a constant basis. Intellectually I agreed with everything said in the book. Brickley quotes and references the scriptures, prophets and apostles well, but I felt like there was a lack of emotional understanding. Perhaps I want validation. Perhaps I want someone to say, "Go ahead and cry all day today. It's okay to feel like crap for a little bit and be in survival mode for awhile. It's normal." This book gave all the reason why you should be "okay" during a difficult trial, but I feel like it didn't express the fact that we are human. Grief is a process and you have to work through it. Okay-ness just doesn't happen overnight because you have faith. It takes time to learn and understand. I have come to the conclusion that it is NORMAL and OKAY to feel sadness, guilt, grief, bitterness, anger and hurt. It is how we deal with these emotions in the end that really matters. We were sent to this earth to experience all of these earthly emotions. They are what make us grow and develop our character. If we pushed them aside and ignored them we would not be making ourselves better - we wouldn't progress. It is through these trial and obstacles that we experience these emotions and then turn to our Savior for help to overcome them.

Okay, aside from that little rant . . . there was some good perspective in this book. Here are a few quotes that I liked.

"How easy is it to falsey measure our fortunes. When we have more money, health, honor, or pleasure, are we winning? Not necessarily, for our ills and fortunes are tests, not grades."

"As our Father beholds the expanse of agony and sorrow, he focuses on each broken heart personally. He also discerns the best timing for comfort and relief. He arranges to have friends, mortal and heavenly, gathered around each drama of suffering in an attendant drama support."

"Suffering makes our quiet companion more discernible. The veil, especially the part covering the heart is thinner. He consoles, 'Be of good cheer,' and he whispers, 'I will lead you along.' "