I was blessed today to read an interview by Todd Bolen. You can see the whole interview at: http://rawchristianity.wordpress.com/ Todd led me on a trip through the Holy Land…of which I’ll always be grateful. Here’s the section of his interview which I found moving:

I have not suffered very much. I know a little bit of how the Lord uses suffering to bring maturity, and I tell others this. But I don’t want to suffer. The little suffering that I have had has taught me the need to hold more loosely things that are not eternal. It has taught me that God can always be trusted. It has taught me that faith is a muscle, and if not exercised, it atrophies. Suffering has helped me to long to be in the presence of Jesus, where he will wipe away every tear. Suffering sobers. Those who are drunk on life are less useful for service in the church.