I’ve recently made a change in my worldview. I now believe that “Peace comes on the other side of acute pain.” Here’s what I mean.
Peace begins with a “moment of surrender” where we come to grips with the fact that we are NOT in control. If you and I aren’t, who is? Answering this thoughtfully will be more painful than ignoring these thoughts in your everyday, numbing them on your overwhelming days, and distracting yourself on the days that are in between.
Ignoring, distracting, and numbing are less painful today. Ignoring, distracting, and numbing are less painful, most likely, tomorrow. Ignoring, distracting, and numbing will work for awhile. Suddenly they will stop working and the pain will feel like it’s unbearable.
Picture a person with lower back pain and slow but steady weight gain.
Ignoring it works for awhile, until the pain gets to great. Clever distractions make us more comfortable until nothing novel remains and even the iphone, ipad, Facebook, and youtube seem so yesterday. Numbing works the best until alcohol isn’t enough, pot takes too long, and oxycotin hits require more, more, more. Suddenly the spine collapses and nothing seems to work. The temporary peace this person had enjoyed was never real, never theirs, and not for long.
Picture that same person facing their lower back pain and deciding to inflict more PAIN on purpose. This person decides to eat less and plank more. This will hurt a whole lot more than ignoring, distracting, and numbing. Acute pain will come in regular, jarring doses. Doses of this persons choosing, funny enough. Someday, however, this person will begin to gain strength in their core and the pressure on their spine will lessen. They will feel the difference. They will know that their choices have made a difference. They will feel some semblance of “peace on the other side of pain.”
And, armed with this experience, this same person will face another form of pain, inflict more pain on purpose, and slowly arrive on the other side again. More, more, more momentum will build within.
I believe there is peace available, it’s just found on the other side of pain. Funny, huh…
BUILT TO LEAD 
I have been contemplating similar thoughts for a little while. I would also like to add that despite the numbing abilities we have there is still the quite of the night when you awake and are all alone to your reality. You can not fool the person in the mirror for too long.
In addition I feel I have personally discovered that when little tasks or favors are asked of myself and I am tired or they seem such a bother (usually a person that needs assistance in some way) and you go ahead and do it anyway. It has been a surprise blessing of joy hidden in what initially seemed like work or a burden. Life can be such a paradox.
I’m enjoying your CS Lewis reviews.
Thanks