The Value in Suffering

By Joe Sullivan, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

Bill had trouble getting into the car. He said he is in constant extreme pain. He said his last doctors completely messed him up and the two doctors before him were also hacks and did not care about him. He said he nearly lost hope and has come close to killing himself because he could not stand the pain any longer. He said he fell into a very dark place and did not know how to climb out. 

“The last four or five years have been the hardest, not only for me but for so many people I know,” he said. “I have been concentrating on the suffering of others and have learned that this has been the best therapy for me.” 

I knew this to be true because he asked me how I was doing several times during the ride. 

“One thing that I have noticed recently, though, is that people seem to be happier, more open, and more optimistic,” he said. I told him I noticed the same thing in myself and in so many other people. 

In my medical transport job, I meet a lot of people every day who are in so many different and difficult situations and have had so many bad experiences, but I have noticed a shift in attitude in general recently. People are more positive and optimistic. 

Bill told me he has learned to accept the constant pain and even jokes about it saying, “the broken healthcare system has relieved my pain by inflicting a greater pain on me with the way they are handling, or rather not handling, my pain. Pain Management for them means also checking to see they are inflicting just the right amount of pain. I guess they thought I didn’t have enough of it.” 

I learned so much from Bill. It was as if Jesus was sitting in the back seat showing me His pain and letting me encourage and comfort Him. Thank you, Bill. May Our Lord relieve your pain and bless you.