Pain

Written by cycleguy on March 18th, 2012

Tim Hansel was a friend of mine.  When I say friend, he was more than a casual acquaintance, but not really a bosom buddy.  Let me explain.  I heard of Tim through a book he wrote called You Gotta Keep Dancin’.  It was the story of his life following a mountain climbing accident in 1974, and from that moment on had him living in chronic pain.  I corresponded with Tim and then was thrilled when he came to the church I pastored in Terre Haute.  I had a chance to meet a living, breathing hero.  I lost contact with him after that, since he went through a major surgery, and we both moved.  I was uninitiated on the internet so had no clue how to find him.  I found out about a month ago (by surfing) that he went to be with Jesus in 2009.  He lived over 30 years in chronic debilitating pain, but he never let it get him down! He wrote:

One of the big problems with pain is that it is so myopic.  Nothing robs one’s strength and vitality so much as self-absorption.  There is no greater waste of time than self-pity, preoccupation with self; it fragments and dissipates that which you want to be about.  Oh, God, you seem to have the only key that can unlock me from myself.  (written in his journal-p.42 in Dancin’)

Later on the same page he says:

Faith isn’t really faith until it’s all that you’re holding on to.

As you read his book, you will find the pain didn’t decrease as he had hoped it would.  But he did begin to learn new ways to respond to it.  We all have pain of various degrees.  Some have emotional pain. Some have physical pain.  Some have mental pain.  Some have relationship pain.  The list goes on.  I reckon what really matters is how we respond to that pain.  Perhaps you are one, or know someone, who is struggling with pain these days (or have been).  I pray peace for you.  I pray rest for you.  I pray faith for you.

What are your thoughts?  Have you ever heard of or read Tim’s book?  What do you think of the two quotes from his book?  I’d like to know your thoughts on faith.

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I was basically incognito over the weekend.  It will not always be like that, but during the summer my Friday time on the computer is limited.  I struggle with staying inside, especially on nice days…like this past Friday when we had a rare 70+ degree March day.  Thanks to all who commented on my last post.  I was not ignoring any comment or being indifferent.  Special thanks to Larry the Deuce for mentioning me in his Saturday post.  I am honored he would do that.

 

33 Comments so far ↓

  1. Daniel says:

    If you have never been in that place of deepest pain, my advice to those who would want to give advice is to just remain silent. I have heard people say things like, “just get over it” or “don’t you think that you’ve hurt long enough?”. Oh, that’s really helpful, thanks so much friend!

  2. Craig says:

    Faith isn’t really faith until it’s all that you’re holding on to

    that is so true. reading about it and saying it are so easy – but living it is a different matter. holding onto NOTHING but God and your faith in Him. that is scary. I want to live in a place where that kind of faith isn’t scary.

  3. Jim F says:

    Never read the book or heard of Tim but really like both quotes but the second really spoke to me. Thanks for sharing these my friend!

  4. Tom says:

    I had not heard of Tim, thanks for sharing him and his quotes. I like and have experienced both of his quotes. God does have the only key yet we keep causing and experiencing pain looking for other keys. Have a great week Bill!

  5. Susan says:

    Love those quotes! That’s a book I want to read. I think, in some ways, pain helps us to stay centered and focused on Jesus. When things are going well, we can so easily forget who we really are.

  6. Arny says:

    great thoughts on pain Bill…

    I was incognito all week. hehe…

    God Bless…

  7. Wow, that quote is amazing. People who go through intense amounts of pain – whether that’s in the spiritual, emotional, or physical realm – have so much to teach us.

  8. floyd says:

    Pain is a reminder for me of how not to live, but more than that, how not to think. All problems come from the love of self. It’s a fine line between survival instinct and thinking too much of oneself.
    I’ve never heard of Tim before, but those are huge statements. Born out of pain allowed by God…

    • cycleguy says:

      I like what you say Floyd: a reminder who not to live and how not to think. Tim was a good example of the way to live and think. Thanks.

  9. Moe says:

    I love both quotes. Very powerful. There’s a secret in the wisdom of a Christian dying man (or woman). Perspective changes and all we see is the love and desire for Jesus. Simply beautiful.

  10. Dan Black says:

    I have not read the book but plan on putting it on my book list.

    These are some great quotes. I totally agree with you about each of us having pain, while this is true not everyone deals with the pain they have. Some people chose to press on and others stay within their pain and never change anything.

    Its working in and through the pain that God wants us to be doing.

    • cycleguy says:

      It would be a good one to put on your list Dan. Several others of his are good as well. If you would ever want to borrow one of them let me know. You are right about working in and through pain that God wants us to be doing. Thanks.

      • Dan Black says:

        I’ll check out all his books. I might just buy it so I can mark it up with pencil. Thanks for writing about the book and being willing to let me borrow it.

  11. Bill, I believe we will eitehr let pain handicap us or strengthen us. Tim seems to have let it strengthen him.

  12. lindaM says:

    Hi Bill,
    I’m glad to hear that Dan is recovering and that the surgery went well. Thank you, Jesus.
    I haven’t heard of Tim Hansel but for sure he exibits maturity in his comments that you posted today.
    Wow! 70 degrees! Our Friday this week was colder with some bits of snow falling on Saturday. We’re not complaining up here in Alberta, Canada. Our winter this year was mild compared to other winters.
    The geese are back. Some of them are standing around on frozen ice water on nesting ponds waiting for a complete thaw. But there’s no doubt that ‘spring is sprung’ as the saying goes. We get dramatic season changes in my area and so spring is an exciting time of year. New growth, new birth, new surroundings. Retail greenhouses start filling up with beautiful baskets of flowers. God is so good!

    We started a study of the book of Job at the ladies’ Bible study that I have been attending with my next door neighbor. I missed the first lesson because of the demands of my legal case but I will get to the next lesson. I have been reading the book of Job and using the ladies’ study book guide and answering the questions.

    One such question to me seems to be ‘What made the difference for Job (at the end of this book) in Job’s ability to accept physical, emotional, and mental pain, to accept sorrow, hardship, his complete change of circumstances that took place from wealth to poverty, his debilitating losses, his repulsion and rejection by society, by his peers, by his family members, by his own wife’.

    For sure his hope and faith in God was a big factor in this great trial. His wisdom and understanding of spiritual things was a big factor. His knowledge of his own good conduct, clear conscience and compassion for others was no doubt a comfort to Job in his struggle to figure out why this great trial was happening to him.

    In my Bible and in the ladies’ study book it seems that Job’s many questions and ‘whys’ were never answered by God when God appeared to Job. The simple fact that God had arrived on the scene was enough for Job. God was aware, God cared, God was watching. That seemed to be enough for Job. Job found himself repenting to God and abhoring himself for all of his complaining and doubts about God’s justice and fairness in the earthly life that he lived.

    Job had absolutely nothing of this world’s goods and prosperity when this occured at the end of the book of Job. He did not have good health, he did not have family around him, he had no support system, he was abandoned and forsaken by all. He had no idea or thoughts that his situation would change. Yet he served God. Job did not curse God and ‘die’ as his wife prompted and encouraged him to do. “Why stay faithful to God?” she said to him. “What is God doing for you now”? “God is useless to you”. “You are nothing, and mean nothing to God.”

    I think for the believer it is important to know that God is with us. God assures us of this in scripture. God says in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you, or forsake you.” Is this enough for us? I think that it can be.

    Psalm 27, ‘Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me’.

    The things that we need from God cannot be bought with gold or silver. We need more of God and his love. ‘Perfect love casts out fear’ the Bible saysin I John 4. We need only ask, the Bible says and God gives us what we need. We need to value our inheritance, our place with God, our ‘new birth’ in Christ. There is much good ahead for us. We must never let go of this thought. We must stay faithful as Job did. We see the end of his great trial in the book of Job, the goodness, the joy bestowed upon him.

    Our end is so much greater in Christ. ‘Keep the faith, brothers and sisters’ needs to be the exhortation for us in the trials and days ahead.

    • cycleguy says:

      Good point about Job. Thanks for praying for Dan. had another 70 degree day today. Rode 26 miles again. Loving this “winter weather.” Thanks Linda.

  13. I knew someone like Tim when I was just 17. One of my best friends in high school had a disease that caused excruciating constant pain. She battled illness constantly due to her poor immune system. Yet she had a smile and personality that was contagious. She loved the Lord and as young as we were, we never knew the seriousness of her pain until she was gone. She never complained, always loved. Always put others before herself. Thank you for reminding me of that kind of spirit. It makes my own suffering seem very small.

    • cycleguy says:

      What a testimony to the power of Jesus. Thanks Bethany for sharing that story. I like to pick Tim’s book up occasionally and “pick” through it because it does what you have said: reminds of what I need. Thanks for visiting and commenting. Aaand: hope your new venture goes well. 🙂

  14. Ed says:

    Never heard of Tim, but I am familar with pain (aren’t we all). Currently I am having trouble with my lower back, not sure what’s going on there.

    And I think that his comment on faith is so true, and so beautiful!

    • cycleguy says:

      I agree we are all familiar with pain. I have never experienced this depth of pain though. Hope if I ever do I can respond as Tim did. Thanks Ed.

  15. Jon says:

    I’m not familiar with Tim, but dang, his journal excerpt rocked me. Wow..such a powerful statement. Something that I know that I needed to read.

  16. Zee says:

    Faith isn’t really faith until it’s all that you’re holding on to. – wow.

    Susan’s comment reminded me of C.S. Lewis’ quote: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world”