Mother Nature as Transformer

In conjunction with time, natural forces also contribute to transform tragedy. When I needed to prune a tree, I used to use a thick black substance as a sealer.

“Just leave it alone,” the most recent nursery man I consulted, said. Sure enough, the tree formed its own protective cover over its wounded limb. Because of natural forces built into it, the tree healed itself. Our bodies respond in similar fashion: my small cuts almost heal themselves–from the inside out.

With the passage of time, additional, more enjoyable experiences overlay loss, including tragic loss. Whether a family wedding, the birth of a new child, or some other pleasant event, we begin to feel less hopeless. Natural processes built into our emotional make-up tend to mitigate our pain, assuage our grief, and ameliorate our painful memories. Though not without scars, like trees most people somehow seem to recover from even the worst events they experience. Maybe with time and natural forces built into our spirit, we  just get better on our own.

Although that may be true for some few people with minor losses, other factors usually intervene to help transform more serious tragedy. Those factors also intervened in Job’s life. We’ll continue to explore what helps transform tragedy.

 

About Grose

Gordon Grose loves most to write, speak, and preach on the message of hope from the book of Job. Using drama, video, and PowerPoint, he has preached and presented this message of hope to churches around the country. Grose pastored three congregations 25 years, then served 12 years as a pastoral counselor in a Portland, Oregon counseling clinic. He now serves with Good Samaritan Counseling Services, Beaverton, OR. A graduate of Wheaton College (IL), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Brandeis University, and Boston University, he comes from a rich and varied background in theological and counseling training. In 2015, Gordon published Tragedy Transformed: How Job's Recovery Can Provide Hope For Yours, a book about turning to Job for hope after tragedy. If you have experienced life challenges or personal tragedy, visit his Transforming Tragedy (gordongrose.com) blog to learn more. TragedyTransformed.com provides a sample of Gordon's speaking as well as an opportunity to purchase copies of his book.
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