Dimitri Markoglu, Period 7, 1/5/2022

 

Literacy & Learning

During our review of Ancient Egypt and The Bible, one of the nonfiction pieces that
resonated with me the most was The Book of Job. When I initially heard we had to read
something from the Bible, I was not exactly enthused. I had never read any bible parables prior
and convinced myself I would be bored to death by old english. I pushed off the assignment as
long as I could–eventually I paid the price when I had to read all 42 chapters in one night. To my
surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed the reading. The Book of Job has since then become one of my
favorite pieces of literature and has had a significant impact on my life since we read it in early
December. In fact, I thought Job’s story was so empowering I wrote a college application essay
surrounding it.
In Modern Mythology, we analyzed the Book of Job from a literary perspective, yet I still
walked out of class that day with a new outlook on the topic of suffering. I used to always
question why good people suffer; I thought there would never be an answer to such a complex
question. However, the answer has been buried in the Book of Job all along, yet I never knew it
because I was too stubborn to read it. After reading Job’s story, I understood that God will make
decisions we will not always understand, for his perspective is infinitely larger than that of our
own. It is up to us to make the choice—as Job did—to trust that God's judgment is righteous and
in our best interest.
Since reading the Book of Job in Modern Mythology class, I have continuously looked
back on Job’s situation each time I faced hardships. I have found consolation in the idea that
God has a plan for me I have not recognized. This mindset has been especially helpful lately with
the semester coming to an end, college decisions rolling in, and the struggles of everyday life
refusing to let up. The wisdom in Job’s story continues to motivate me to trust the process and
look to the future and I recommend anyone looking for answers in their own life read the Book
of Job.