Life is only a long and bitter suicide, and faith alone can

"Life is only a long and bitter suicide, and faith alone can transform this suicide into a sacrifice." These profound words from Franz Liszt speak to the deep anguish of the human condition. To understand their meaning, one must first grapple with the weight of the first part of the statement: that life itself, in its struggle, in its suffering, can feel like a slow death, a continual loss of hope, purpose, and vitality. Indeed, the trials of life—its injustices, its disappointments, and its inevitable end—often make us feel as though we are moving toward an ultimate fate of meaninglessness, much like a suicide in slow motion. In this view, life is seen not as a gift to be cherished, but as a burden to be endured, and this weight of existence can often suffocate the spirit.

But then Liszt offers a radical transformation in his words: that faith alone has the power to change this bleak journey into something profound. Faith, in this sense, is not simply belief in the divine, but a deeper trust in the meaning and purpose of life itself, even in the face of suffering. Faith allows us to see beyond the immediate pain and hardship, to understand that life, with all its struggles, is not an accident or a curse, but a sacred journey. When faith enters our hearts, the bitter march towards death is no longer seen as despair, but as a sacrifice, a way to transcend the ordinary and move toward something higher, something divine.

Consider the life of Nelson Mandela, a man who endured 27 years of imprisonment, hardship, and separation from his loved ones. From the outside, his life could be viewed as a prolonged suffering, an endless imprisonment of body and spirit. And yet, Mandela’s faith in his cause, in the ideals of justice and freedom, transformed his suffering. Rather than being consumed by bitterness or despair, he saw his imprisonment as a sacrifice for the greater good of his people. His faith in the future of South Africa, in the righteousness of his struggle, allowed him to transform his personal suffering into something sacred, something that would serve a higher purpose. In the end, it was this faith that allowed him not only to endure but to triumph, turning what could have been a life of bitterness into one of immense impact.

Liszt's insight mirrors the ancient teachings of the stoics, who believed that suffering is an inevitable part of life, but that how we respond to suffering is what shapes our character. The stoic Epictetus famously said, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” This perspective echoes Liszt’s vision: while life may feel like a bitter suicide, the path we choose to walk, with faith in our hearts, can transform that suffering into a sacred sacrifice, a journey that holds meaning far beyond the pain we experience. It is through faith that we can transcend the pain, that we can offer up our struggles not as a defeat, but as a contribution to something greater than ourselves.

In the greatest stories of human history, we see countless examples of individuals who have turned their suffering into sacrifice through their faith. Think of Mother Teresa, whose life was a continuous offering of service to the poorest and most abandoned people of India. The suffering she witnessed was overwhelming, but it was through her faith in God’s love and her deep sense of purpose that she could transform her work into a lifelong sacrifice. Her suffering was not meaningless; it was the foundation of a life dedicated to others, a life that showed the world the power of faith to transform even the darkest circumstances.

The lesson Liszt offers us is both challenging and liberating. Yes, life is filled with suffering and struggle, and yes, it can often feel like we are walking toward an inevitable end that has little meaning. But the power of faith—in ourselves, in a higher purpose, or in the divine—can change our perspective. It can transform that suffering into a sacrifice, a gift that we offer to the world. Faith gives us the ability to see that our hardships are not in vain but are opportunities to grow, to become more than we were before, and to contribute something greater than ourselves.

In practical terms, this means that when faced with the difficulties of life, we must choose faith. We must believe that even in our suffering, we are part of a larger story. We must cultivate hope, recognizing that even the darkest moments can lead to greater understanding and purpose. Whether through our relationships, our work, or our service to others, we can offer our struggles as a sacrifice, knowing that they contribute to the greater good. In doing so, we transform what could have been a long and bitter suicide into a meaningful journey, filled with hope, purpose, and the divine power of faith.