Struggle, Discomfort, and Growth

A recent news report explained that a school district in Mississippi had removed Harper Lee’s classic, To Kill a Mockingbird from a middle school reading list because the book's language "makes people uncomfortable." I am offended by this on two levels. First, this is one of my favorite books. The book and film that came from it both challenged my prejudices and gave me hope for a better society. Second, we need to read things that make us uncomfortable. If we only read those who agree with us, we stagnate. Listening to others’ ideas and experiences help us to grow.

As my friend John Tyler posted on Facebook in response to this report:

“If I followed this ‘thinking’ at home, I'd pull all my Bibles from the shelves. Most of what Jesus says, as reported on the Bible's pages, makes me uncomfortable.

Learning, growing, and adopting new perspectives and behaviors can be painful experiences. Very often, change and pain go together. Whether we are mastering content material for an examination, exercising to improve our health, or confronting prejudice and injustice, we will experience discomfort, confusion, and some pain.

After Jacob wrestled with God, God gave him the name Israel (Genesis 32:28; 35:10). The name can be translated “he struggles with God,” "triumphant with God," or "who prevails with God". This describes the journey not only of the man but the people who journeyed with God. The nation of Israel often struggled with God and did not always win. God continued to walk with them in the learning process, however, even in Exile.

If we fail to struggle, perhaps our goals are too limited. A bit of discomfort is a small price to pay to become the people that God has called us to be.

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