A REFUSAL TO SUFFER — Our Decision

Gradually the region began to exercise such a fascination over her mind that both she and her husband decided to stay on after he had retired from military service. She later wrote a novel, ‘Bright Ramparts’ which expressed all the excitement she had felt over her new experiences and discoveries. Her book proved very popular and ran to several editions. A wretched experience had been transformed into an exciting adventure. But how exactly had this transformation taken place? Neither the desert, nor the natives, nor any other element in the situation had changed. Whatever change had taken place was inside the mind and heart of Thelma Thompson. Her own change of attitude had given her a new life. Whenever we analyse suffering, we find that there are two main features to it. One is the thing which causes the suffering and the other is our own reaction to it. We can take courage from Thelma Thompson’s example, and so control our reaction that suffering is finally eliminated. The best lessons are often learned in the most trying situations. v The Right Comparison Thinking of oneself in relation to other men might lead to arrogance, for it is possible that one will be better off than them; one might hold a higher status in life. But when one thinks of oneself in relation to the vast universe arrogance disappears, for it becomes apparent how small and insignificant one is. God has created the universe so that we may observe and ponder over it; so that realization of its greatness may lead us to a realization of what a small part we ourselves occupy in it; so that we may be imbued with the quality of humility, which is the greatest and most realistic quality that man can have.