Win the Day Ch 3

The Obstacle Is the Way - Study Notes

• Joseph Merrick (Elephant Man): Born in 1862, suffered severe physical deformities; exhibited in freak shows; eventually cared for by Dr. Treves. Treves observed Merrick's emotional response to kindness and a change for the better.

• Kissing the Wave: The concept of accepting and enduring challenging circumstances. It's not about ignoring suffering, but about responding with resilience. The obstacles are not the enemy, but rather opportunities for growth.

• The Significance of Response-ability: Acknowledging that we can't control every difficulty in our lives, but we can choose how to respond. This contrasts with a focus on assigning blame, either on oneself or on others.

• Charles Spurgeon's Experience: Spurgeon, a preacher, suffered an intense trauma from a disastrous incident at Surrey Gardens Music Hall that nearly ended his career. He demonstrates overcoming intense emotional responses through faith. His stress levels, calculated with the social readjustment rating scale, were extremely high, indicating susceptibility to illness given the circumstances.

• Lora's Cancer Diagnosis: Author's wife's experience with breast cancer illustrates how facing challenges head-on, including adjusting lifestyle and pursuing various forms of healing, aids resilience and trust in divine healing powers.

• Dealing with Pain and Suffering: Acknowledges the subjective nature of suffering and grief. The author urges acceptance of circumstances, focusing on learning lessons and finding growth.

• The Secret to Happiness in Suffering: The article proposes that embracing challenges, asking "What have you come to teach me?", and finding strength in faith leads to lasting growth, not simply escaping hardship. The author gives example of Joseph Merrick, Charles Spurgeon, and their respective struggles.

• Blaming God: The author confronts the difficult question of why suffering occurs; highlights Deuteronomy 29:29; discusses the importance of leaning on faith and accepting situations beyond immediate understanding, even if questions remain unanswered.

• The Serenity Prayer: The author connects the Serenity Prayer to the concept of response-ability, emphasizing the importance of accepting what's beyond our control, embracing courageous action where possible, and developing a discerning approach to responding effectively to life's circumstances.

• The Holy Best: Contrasted with 'human best', which focuses on individual effort, the 'holy best' promotes leaning on God for guidance and healing. This contrasts with relying on therapy alone.

• Buried Dead Yesterdays: The author advocates for letting go of the past by acknowledging it, learning from it, and finding new meaning, rather than clinging to painful memories or feelings of resentment. It's about moving forward in a way that's both faithful and resolute, recognizing that Jesus's sacrifice provides a means to "nail" painful past experiences to the cross, effectively ending their influence in the present and future.