It seems a fitting topic, post-surgery. Pain is this strange and mind-altering experience. I think it is safe to say that, as a nation, we are in pain right now. When I was released from the hospital, all I heard was news about police shootings and then a sniper shooting at police. For the duration of my stay in the hospital, I had HGTV on and some other white noise channel with nature photos. Maybe that makes me a less-than-conscientious member of society in the eyes of some, but the truth is I wouldn’t have been of much use to anyone.

I’m not sure I’m useful yet, as I sit here typing this blog. I had minor surgery, got rid of the appendix, and felt pretty whiny in general about the entire thing. Really, haven’t I had enough damn surgery to last me for the rest of my life? (I know, that’s not how it works, but the “unfairness” of it all is on my nerves right now.) Now, I’m taking my pain medicine, which leaves me typing very carefully, since I’m not sure I remember how to spell.

So, quotes on pain today. On a micro and on a macro scale. There are all kinds of pain, and all types of healing that need to take place.

“Find a place inside you where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” ~ Joseph Campbell

“If pain must come, may it come quickly. Because I have a life to live, and I need to live it in the best way possible. If he has to make a choice, may he make it now. Then I will either wait for him or forget him.” ~ Paulo Coelho

“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ~ C.S. Lewis

“There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.” ~ Dalai Lama XIV

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” ~ Khalil Gibran

“The marks humans leave are too often scars.” ~ John Green

So, pain. I was thinking of it in terms of pure frustration: three new incisions, three new future scars, abdominal surgery (which hurts anyway). But we are all suffering right now. And the media is fueling our pain and grief as quickly as it can.

Blessings and healing to you all.