It is just possible that a frantic effort to remove suffering may not be the most loving act. Parents do their children no loving-kindness by overprotecting them from the assaults of the world they live in. Such protection in its extreme form may be the denial of the opportunity to grow in stature and compassion, in solidarity with other men, in self-understanding, and in the knowledge of God. And we who try to evade suffering at any cost may be rejecting the Truth knocking at our door, asking that we sup with him and he with us, including most significantly the drinking of his cup. The Good News is that suffering is not in itself alien and terrible, or hostile to the nature of God, but that suffering is that peculiar environment in which the love and power of God can shine most clearly, for it was God who suffered for us, who suffers with us, and shares our travail.