Suffering

What a broad topic that surrounds us in everyday life. I want to get as many responses to this question. What role or meaning does suffering play in human life? I encourage you to incorporate anything your mind can produce. Tie it into a theme from a novel, introduce religious aspects, personal aspect, worldly relation. It is an interesting topic and shall be the theme through out my essay I am writing for a class. Please do not put down any ones comments, just generate your own thoughts or create an appropriate debate. Do not call someone dumb - if you disagree, explain why. I hope something comes of this, have fun everyone. I look forward to reading what you all have to say!