The Risk of Fatalism

I think there's definitely ways in which you can get into very dark places while avoiding fatalism. There is a Christian tradition of self-flagellation of monks who wanted to identify with the suffering of Jesus so they'd whip themselves or otherwise intentionally make themselves suffer. Paul telling the Romans that suffering leads to perseverance and character was not an invitation to seek out more suffering. Rather, it's the recognition that the suffering that is happening can be leveraged for good. We want to cultivate the eyes to see this world of wounds. But we should remember that there is a communal aspect to this, which Willy James Jennings reminds us of.