Responding To Suffering

Responding to Suffering

Suffering defined is a state that one suffers. Suffer defined is endurance of death, pain, or distress; the sustention of loss or damage. (Merriam - Webster Dictionary Online).

The creation stories told in the books of Genesis, Job, Gilgamesh, and the Enuma Elish all tell tales of suffering experienced by mankind. In each of these literary pieces suffering is experienced in different levels and for different reasons. Based on the readings I believe that man experienced suffering so that they could evolve into better human beings. Gilgamesh and Job are two characters that suffered immensely, and as a result of their suffering they became better individuals. They accepted their suffering and took lessons from it that bettered their lives overall.

Gilgamesh was a great king who abused his power. He showed little respect for the people that he governed and caused them an immense amount of suffering. The gods who watched over Gilgamesh were displeased with his actions and sought out to punish him. Gilgamesh first suffered when the gods killed his best friend Enkidu. Enkidu's death caused Gilgamesh great pain and he wept and mourned for seven days. In his quest to find peace after his friends death Gilgamesh determined that he would seek out Utnapishtim, the keeper of eternal life, so that he would never have to experience what Enkidu did.

In his quest to find eternal life Gilgamesh experienced many obstacles but he overcame each and every one of them. Gilgamesh did in fact gain eternal life; however he lost it because he was unable to stay awake. Gilgamesh losing

eternal life caused him pain because he knew that he too would eventually see the same fate as Enkinu. When Gilgamesh returned home from his quest Gilgamesh finally realized the error of his ways; he realized that his people were to be respected and their lives honored; even though he would not like forever he realized that mankind would. Gilgamesh's suffering caused him to look at himself and make a change so that his last days would be pleasant ones and his memory would not be forgotten. Job was another character whose encounter with suffering led him to become a great man.

Job is described as a "perfect and upright man, who was God fearing and eschewed evil". He was wealthy in substance as well as in character. Job held God and his wishes in the highest regard and saw to it that