This morning I encountered the following words of wisdom from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, which I share with you in the spirit of Good Friday:
Whoever enters discipleship enters Jesus' death, and puts his or her own life into death; this has been so from the beginning. The cross is not the horrible end of a pious, happy life, but stands rather at the beginning of community with Jesus Christ.
May all of us who suffer from mental and physical afflictions remember that our suffering is never an end, but always points with hope towards the Resurrection.