The Role of Sorrow in the World

I recently shared a quote from the End Poem: “To cure the world of its sorrow would destroy it. The sorrow is part of its private task.” The End Poem is a unique piece of narrative found in the popular game Minecraft. It plays during the credits after defeating the Ender Dragon, the game’s final boss. The poem consists of a conversation between two God-like characters, often referred to as “the Narrator” and “the Player.” In my comment, I reflected, “As I grow older, I increasingly recognize that even the ‘undesirable’ aspects of life have their rightful place. Can you imagine a world devoid of contrasts? A world without both light and darkness?”

In response, a Facebook friend expressed a poignant perspective: “I used to believe that, but now, as I imagine myself as a Palestinian child in Gaza, or someone in Lebanon, Syria, or Sudan, I can no longer hold that view. All is NOT well with our world!”

His concerns about the conflict in Palestine, along with his deep feelings about the state of the world, are entirely valid. I fully acknowledge the gravity of his emotions and the harsh realities faced by many. The line from the End Poem touches upon a deeper philosophical truth about existence, yet it in no way endorses the violence and suffering prevalent in those regions.