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The Power of Experience and the Lessons We Learn

Writer's picture: Zoyda WhighZoyda Whigh


In life, we often face challenges that compel us to step beyond our comfort zones. These challenges frequently require us to gain practical experience—experience that not only equips us for future endeavors but also deepens our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. The poem "I Asked God" by Claudia Minden Weisz beautifully captures the essence of how life's difficulties are not obstacles but opportunities for growth, transformation, and a deeper connection with a higher purpose.

Let’s reflect on some key themes from this poem and how they relate to the concept of experience:


1. Growth Through Challenges

The poem begins with the speaker asking God to take away pride, but God responds by saying that it is up to the individual to give it up. This teaches us that growth often comes from within. Just as practical experience cannot be handed to us but must be earned, personal growth comes from the conscious choices we make and the lessons we allow ourselves to learn through experience.


2. Strength in the Spirit

The speaker asks for the healing of their child’s physical condition, but God reminds them that the spirit is already whole, while the body is temporary. Similarly, in our lives, challenges may manifest in physical, emotional, or professional ways, but the true essence of who we are—our character and resilience—is shaped and strengthened by how we face these challenges.


3. The Importance of Patience

When asking for patience, the response is a profound reminder that patience is a by-product of tribulation. Patience cannot be granted—it is cultivated through experience, through the endurance of trials and the wisdom we gain from them. This aligns with the idea that practical experience is not given, but earned through perseverance and commitment.


4. Happiness as a Choice

One of the most powerful lines in the poem is when God explains that happiness is not something He gives—He offers blessings, but happiness is a personal choice. Much like the satisfaction and growth that come from gaining experience, happiness is a state we create for ourselves by how we perceive and respond to the circumstances in our lives.


5. Suffering as a Path to Connection

The poem acknowledges that suffering brings us closer to God, suggesting that pain and hardship often have a purpose beyond what we immediately see. Through the process of enduring life's difficulties, we gain the wisdom and experience necessary to connect more deeply with our inner selves and, ultimately, with the divine.


6. Love and Purpose

The final lines of the poem emphasize the importance of love—specifically, the speaker’s desire to love others as God loves them. This is a reminder that the ultimate purpose of life’s challenges and experiences is to bring us closer to understanding and embodying love. Whether in personal growth, professional development, or spiritual enlightenment, love and compassion are at the core of every meaningful experience.



Embrace the Experience, Embrace Life

Claudia Minden Weisz’s poem teaches us that life is not about having our struggles removed or our challenges simplified. It is about facing those challenges with courage, faith, and an open heart. Practical experience is not a gift we receive—it is something we cultivate through hard work, perseverance, and self-reflection. It is what shapes us into stronger, more compassionate individuals, preparing us for future endeavors.

Just as the poem reminds us, happiness, patience, and love are within our control, if we are willing to embrace the experiences that life presents to us. Every challenge is an opportunity for growth, and through those experiences, we come to truly live.

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