John Donne’s Troubles      

John Donne lived in England in the late 1500s and early 1600s. Distress filled his life.

• His father died when he was only four.
• He married and his wife had twelve children, but five
  died as infants.
• His father-in-law refused to help his family in the financial crisis.
• During his first year of ministry in a Protestant church, his authenticity was questioned
• His wife died when she was only 33.

     At her funeral he had Lamentations 3:1 read: “I am a man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord’s wrath. (NIV)”
   

And Yet 

     Yet, despite all these afflictions, he became the pastor of the largest cathedral in London.

But Then

      A plague in Europe killed one-third of the total population while he was the pastor at this church. Donne too was ill
for a time, but not until he recuperated did he realize how truly sick he had been. It was then he remembered hearing the cathedral bells chiming. In his delusion, he thought they were sounding his death. It was after his illness that he wrote the famous quote:

No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were,

As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

     Our world is filled with pressures: daily annoyances, schedules, and deadlines. Our world is filled with pains: relational strains, financial hardships, sickness, and death. Often I wonder how does one cope and move forward?

Back Stories

     I love backstories of people’s lives. They inspire me. 

    And I love God. He is our comforter and guide. He is our hope. Our worldly woes may try to stop us, but the Light of the World encourages us to hold fast to him, persevering steadily day by day.

     As we nestle ourselves in his comfort, He transforms our hurts into strengths. These strengths can be used to glorify him because we can use our back stories to encourage others.