MUST Christian Love move us to fat content
With the black dismal mass of man's distress?
And wrapped in God, must we then blandly bless
Wretchedness, pain, disease, as Heaven-sent
To prove our virture, channel our intent
Away from Earth, where power and lust oppress
The ancient-suffering seed of gentleness,
And wealth and health always for nought are spent?
    Ah never, never!  If this thing were true,
    That we are cattle, tortured, that God's grace
    May shine: I would deny Him to His face.
    And yet---and yet---if God should suffer too,
    And share, and love, and die: may we not see
    The paradox . . . blaze into Mystery?

Kenneth Boulding, 1945