Posted by: Tom,  "In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias
they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they
produced Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and the Renaissance. In
Switzerland they had brotherly love: they had 500 years of
democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo
clock." --Harry Lime, “The Third Man”  Was this Orson Welles
character on to something? James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man
who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test,
he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those
who love him." It seems that the refining that comes with trial
brings out our best.  It seems to me that we spend an awful lot
of time trying to figure out ways to avoid trials of any kind.
Some have put forward the idea that we need to be challenged in
order to grow. I believe that but I really don't think challenge
is the same as trials. Maybe we need trials to bring out our
absolute best.  Do we do ourselves and others a disservice by
trying to avoid trials? H