Poetry and Pain

Anne Shirley and Miss Elizabeth Bennett preoccupied my mind as a teen. I assumed all young ladies were similar and had those expectations of my step-daughter. Welp. . . she has been more of a math gal, that is, until Shakespeare sparked her enthusiasm during a school assignment. Turns out she is not much for full works of literature but can appreciate poetry. 

With this in mind, at the beginning of the year, I made the resolution to read poetry aloud (specifically with my teen).

It just so happened that Taylor Blayse was my guest blogger last week. Taylor's upcoming book is one of poetry. This made me conscience of March's impending approach. Despite my daughter's interest and my goal, we have yet to read poetry together in 2024. Fortunately, there is always tomorrow!

While all of this was top of mind, I found myself at the book of Job in my normal studies. The last time I read Job, the resounding message was "Humanity is in need of an Advocate." This time around, I cannot help but notice the elegant poetry of Job's pain. 

My Bible's footnote points out some of the book's uniqueness.

"The book of Job is the only book in the Bible that uses the prose-poetry-prose pattern.  Chapter 1 and 2 are prose, and introduce the poetic monologs and dialogues that comprise the essence of the story of Job. . . Job is probably the most ancient book of the Bible and in addition to its Biblical message is highly regarded as a literary masterpiece."

The book of Job is less about defining our suffering and more about the expression of the human experience. That expression often goes without explanation. We were created for faith, hope, and love with little understanding. Yet, we so often crave answers and neglect what was so freely given. In this sense, we are all still like Adam and Eve in the garden who passed by decadent nutrients for the fruit of knowledge of good and evil. 

Job 7:20 reads, "Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have you set me as your target, So that I am a burden to myself?" (NKJ)

Here Job's questions are a heart felt plea. He is in absolute misery. Yet his friends see him as sinful.  How do we see ourselves when we are in agony?

Someone with an avoidant attachment style may be prone to ignore their feelings. After a prolonged habit of neglecting feelings, one may even become numb to their emotions. Conversely, someone with an anxious attachment style is probably acutely aware of their feelings and desperate to alleviate their pain. They may even engage in risky behavior to do so.

Job remained in his torment and was honest about what he felt, while never sinning against God. He did not hide from his feelings nor did he try to sooth his hurt.

We are told that Job sat among the ashes and scraped his skin sores with a piece broken pottery.

Some say Job didn't have a choice.  Where did he have to go? What else could he have done? All was taken from him, he had no refuge. While this may be true, he certainly had a choice in his response to his wife who encouraged him to curse God. 

All of Job's possessions were destroyed. His children were dead. His body was in pain and he had lost his wife's support. Yet Job's responded with, "Shall we indeed accept only good from God and not also accept adversity and disaster?"

What shall we accept?

If calamity, sickness, or angst have come to visit the aim ought not be to find explanation, to disregard, or to relieve. Like Job, a time to simply remain may be in order.

Tribulation is a part of life. The pendulum of views can sway back and forth. One side finds little to no value in feelings and can completely miss out on their precious warnings. The other side places too high a value on feelings and can be rules by them, even to one's own detriment. 

In this, I see the wisdom of the Job. Our mortal limitations leave us with little to negotiate the trails of our existence. Yes we need an Advocate and a Savior, but we also need connection to the one who is our Savior and Advocate.  Nothing draws us closer to our God than the depths of despair. 

What feelings or conflict might you need to just sit in with God? Have you been running from your feelings? Are you more likely to hurry a solution?