On Adversity

Amazing photo by Rick Goldwasser via Flickr. Used with permission. Thanks Rick! :)

Adversity. We all face it. It comes in many forms: illness, loss of a loved one, physical or mental disabilities, financial difficulties, depression, rebellious children. Take your pick. I’ll admit that sometimes I start feeling like I have more than my fair share. I’ll spare you the laundry list. If you read this blog very often you are undoubtedly already aware of some of the adversity that I’ve been “blessed” with. I won’t pretend that I know exactly how to deal with adversity. I am still learning, but I have been giving a lot of thought to this subject lately. Here’s what I’ve been thinking. . . 

 

The above photograph is of a bristlecone pine tree. This particular tree is located in the White Mountains of eastern California. It is among the oldest non-clonal organisms living on earth. It is probably in the neighborhood of 4,000+ years old. These trees grow just below the tree line. They endure cold temperatures, short growing seasons, very little precipitation and buffeting winds. Because of these adverse growing conditions, the trees grow very slowly. “The wood is very dense and resinous, and thus resistant to invasion by insects, fungi, and other potential pests.” (Wikipedia)

This tree is twisted by wind and age—gnarled, bent and barren, but I think it is one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen. Thousands of years of adversity have sculpted and smoothed it into a natural work of art.

Adversity can do the same for us. Orson F. Whitney said:

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . "

We can become strengthened and yes, beautified, by our adversity. Our sharp corners are rubbed off; our roughness is smoothed out. We are shaped, polished, softened and made to bend, but all of these things contribute to our ultimately becoming both more resilient and more refined. They make us into what God wants us to become.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to slow down (like those amazing, slow-growing trees), evaluate our situation and prioritize. We can’t do everything. We can’t solve every problem. We aren’t expected to try to run faster than we have strength. We just have to keep moving forward, enduring, remaining steadfast and unshakeable in our faith that “all things work together for good to them that love God. . .” (Romans 8:26).

 

Good timber does not grow in ease;

The stronger wind, the tougher trees;

By sun and cold, by rain and snows,

In tree or man, good timber grows.

                                ~Mark Malloch-Brown

In the past I’ve thought of my personal adversities as a rubber band that has been stretched for too long and has become brittle and lost its ability to return to its original shape. I’ve felt overwhelmed and beaten down. After much thought, I realize that my adversities don’t break me or stretch me beyond repair. They are difficult, to be sure, but they are helping me become like a bristlecone pine tree. They are  forming me—over long, slow years—into something beautiful and amazing. I still have a long way to go but I have a feeling I will have many more opportunities to grow (like the tree) into something exceptional.

*More on adversity:

• “The Uses of Adversity” by Carlfred Broderick (this article was introduced to me by my father-in-law. It is fantastic!)
• Stephanie Nielsen—this woman is a true inspiration. If you are unfamiliar with her and her story, check it out here.
• “Adversity” by Dallin H. Oaks
• “An High Priest of Good Things to Come” by Jeffrey R. Holland. (Probably one of my favorite talks—ever).
• “Pushing Against the Rock”—A few of  my own past thoughts on the subject.