The Fragility and Sweetness of Life

July 06, 2011 by James Faulconer

Continued from Page 1

According to Alma, God himself learned something of the sweetness of life by learning of its fragility.

Even Christians who do not agree with the LDS view of the Incarnation recognize the intimate connection between suffering and divine life. With Paul we testify that "we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him" (Romans 8:16-17; my italics).

If we respond to age, violence, or death in hatred, anger, depression or any other negative way, we suffer, but we do not suffer with Christ. To suffer with him is to suffer as he did: without accusation of either another person or our circumstances in the world. Those who suffer with Christ accept the will of the Father. They take up the life they are given, including its suffering and our loving responses to that suffering.

Life is sweet and continually sweeter to those who accept its fragility.

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7/6/2011 4:00:00 AM

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About James Faulconer

James Faulconer is a Richard L. Evans Professor of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University, where he has taught philosophy since 1975.

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