Befriending Pain

I watch G.I. Jane every time it comes on cable or the networks. It is the story of a woman who tries to become the first female Navy Seal. There is scene that takes place at the start of Hell Week. The recruits are doing leg lifts in the water and sand after going through excruciating PT (Physical Torture). The Master Chief is instructing them about pain he says: "Pain is your friend. It will remind you to finish the job and get the hell home...You know the best thing about pain? (pauses) No Master Chief. IT LET'S YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT DEAD YET!!"

I have friends who just finished the Chicago Marathon, a feat I will attempt after the Chicago Half, one friend in particular ran his first Marathon and posted the 8 Stages of Running a Marathon on YouTube it is the funniest thing ever but true!!! It equates to phases in life's journey 1.excitement 2.Denial 3. Shock 4. isolation 5. despair 6. THE WALL 7. Affirmation 8. Elation. I have not run a Marathon yet but experienced all of these emotions in varying degrees along my life's journey.

Nobody likes pain. In fact we try to avoid  it at all costs!! But, pain is a fact of life!!! Birth? Painful! (ask my sister with her seven children!!), Root canal?  Painful!  Heartburn after eating sliders? Painful! Broken heart?  Painful! Getting fired? Painful! Saying goodbye to loved ones? Painful!!

 Pain is a fact of life. It is at the core of the human experience. The Psalmist says "weeping endures for a night but joy comes in the morning" But, what do you between the night and morning? Befriend the Pain.

I have a lot physical pain from my bone spur in my heel which arragvates my Achilles tendon, to my pre-arthritic knees. My body screams at me in the morning why are you getting out of bed????!!! Then I think about the man with MS who finished the Chicago Marathon in 16hours,  or the story of Matty Long, or the countless others who befriend the pain and continue the journey to finish the race. I write this entry in mild pain aching here, throbbing there but I'm grateful for the pain because it reminds me I'm NOT DEAD YET!!

Befriend the Pain it will teach you something.

Peace & Blessings on Your Journey