Universal Life Church

Spiritual Perspectives by Rev. Tom Stewart

Being forced into hard circumstances or situations gives us a new perspective on life. Things we once valued no longer hold the same value.

Things that were of lesser concern become very important, and what we once thought important no longer holds such importance.

These hard circumstances allow us to identify with the sufferings of others. They keeps us from having a shallow view of the hardships of others and allows us to truly identify with them. Those who speak of such trials from no experience, often judge others who have had such hardship. It is a superficiality of life experience that often permeates this shallow perspective.

Those who have walked in and through hard times immediately have a kinship with others who have walked there also. They do not need to explain; they merely look at one another with mutual respect and admiration for their common experience. They know that these trials/life experiences worked a special thing in them. This trials and lessons help perceive the life trials of others. It is impossible to appreciate any experience while you are in it.

However, once you have reached the top of the mountain, you are able to appreciate what terrain you have passed through. You marvel at what you were able to walk through. Troubled times have yielded more than you ever thought possible. You are able to appreciate the beauty of the experience and lay aside the sorrow and pain it may have produced.

These hard circumstances and lessons work in us for a greater purpose. . . to be able to recognize what others are going through . . . to have compassion and understanding for them. . . to comfort and help them as a fellow human being.

(One cannot truly understand another until they have walked in the other's shoes.)

Loving our fellow brothers and sisters . . . as we love ourselves. Where have we heard this before? We serve . . . they later serve . . . everybody serves . . . a very simple WIN/WIN equation.

Shalom

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