Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Time lost is time when we have not lived a full human life, time unenriched by experience, creative endeavor, enjoyment, and suffering."

Written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer shortly before his execution in Nazi Germany for his roll in a plot to assassinate Hitler. He had voluntarily returned to Germany from the United Stated in WWII to keep what he felt was the "real church" alive while the much of the organized Christian chrurch had chosen to side with the Nazis. He was hanged only three weeks before the liberation of Germany.

What is striking is his recognition of the necessity of suffering to the human experience. We would do well to remind ourselves of such when faced with times of personal despair or difficulty.