Candide is an “interesting” book. The part that has really stuck with me though is when the old woman shares her story and then tells Cunegonde and Candide to go talk to everyone else and they will find out that everyone believes they have been through more than others. I am sure you have figured it out by now, but I usually tie everything into a biblical principle if possible (which I believe it is always possible!). How often do we hear stories told that apply to “the grass is greener on the other side”? Cunegonde did not think the old woman could know anything of what she had been through, that the old woman’s life had to be easy in comparison. Man was she mistaken. Just like her, we always think we have been through worse, more torturous stuff, than those around us. Sometimes we do not even realize that things we are saying align with this fact, and so we think to ourselves, that person is not me… But think about the last thing you complained about. Do you remember it? I know I do. Do not get me wrong, we all go through really hard things, but our suffering and pain can never compare to that of our Lord Jesus Christ. He suffered rejection, abuse, and death(just to name a few). The people He came for were the very ones who rejected Him. How would you feel if your children rejected you? They mocked him, beat him, and spat upon him when he was in the “courts”. Then they led our Savior up to a hill and nailed Him to a cross. Death on a cross was painful not to mention one of the most degrading ways one could be killed. However, Christ more than made it through His pain, He conquered it. You do not see Him going around complaining about what He did for us. You see Him reaching out His hand saying, look what I did for you, please come to me for I desire to save you. That is what this story has made me think about. I just wanted to share it. I could write on and on, but I do not think you would want to read it. However, I do want to leave you with this question, when was the last time you thanked God for everything He has done and is doing in your life?
Joy Vigneulle
PS - Rachel Kotlan
People are always trying to be the best, even in bad situation. If someone says they went through this specific hard time in their life, someone else will say "hey, that's nothing compared to this." It's like bragging on who had the worse day.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need to realize that there will always be someone worse off than us. While we might have had to deal with something that, yeah, it was tragic, it's not as bad as say, those starving poor children in Africa, or as you use, the treatment of our Lord Jesus on the cross.
When comparing our experiences with others, we shouldn't have a "my boat is bigger that your boat" kind of argument. Candide can help you realize that.
I HAVE been through way worse than you have Joy. haha (Just kidding)
ReplyDeleteI definitely see your point. As far as Christians go, sometimes prayer request time can turn into let me share something to up your awfulness. Thats why I share life stories in a funny form, then people are too busy laughing to feel either that my life is worse or their life is worse (: haha
ReplyDeletea method to my madness. As far as Candide goes, Voltaire's whole point is to create the absolute worst possible of worst possible situations...Thus the comments about who's life is "worser"
That's a really cool aspect to think about. When I got to that part in the book, I thought about how you never really know a person. It's kind of like that saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." To agree with what you said, every one goes through stinky mess, and to judge someone because they seem weird, or stuck - up, is kind of ridiculous. You never really know someone until you know them, you know? Haha.
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