Posted by Miller on January 2, 2003, at 21:22:23
In reply to Trying to understand faith and depression-Miller, posted by BekkaH on January 2, 2003, at 21:07:27
Well, I am not sure I can relate to what he was trying to get across. In my mind, he was saying "There is meaning in one's suffering". I realize there was a lot more to the book, but that was the main point I took away from it.
I don't necessarily think there IS meaning in suffering. I won't bore you (or scare you) with my idea of suffering. I did really relate to him when he was telling about how so many prisoners died right after Christmas because they lost hope. Losing hope is when it all ends. We see it everyday. An old person is put into a nursing home and they die a few weeks later. Or the old person who "hangs in there" until a specific event is over. Or the terminally ill patient who is too tired to keep up the fight anymore. And we can't forget the suicidal people who take their lives because there is no hope left of the internal pain being relieved.
So, I agree that in order for him to survive, he needed to keep the HOPE that his suffering (and those of his family) had meaning. If that is what motivated him, it is understandable.
I believe each person may have a different motivation. Whether it be competition, a quest for love, anger towards oneself or others, or even for the perfect "moral" life. It's up to each person to find the underlying motivation and nurture it enough to balance it within personal boundaries. Frankl certainly had to hold on tight. But he was able to make peace with his ordeal by examining his motivations.
Just my opinion.
-Miller
poster:Miller
thread:1442
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20021227/msgs/1502.html