We usually think of it as a bad thing, but pain helps keep us from harm. In fact, without pain, our lives would be cut short. In the book “Pain: The Gift that Nobody Wants,” authors Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand write about a congenital disease that causes people to be born unable to experience pain. Lacking this sensory guidance, these people easily fall prey to serious injuries, fail to seek medical attention in a timely manner, and often die before they reach adulthood. Like the negative aspects of our other senses—experiencing stinky smells, a foul taste, a grating noise, or a dreadful sight—pain serves as a message that something is wrong and change is necessary. If you stub your toe or bump your head, the message is to pay attention and become more conscious of your surroundings. However, if we suffer and the message isn’t clear, pain seems …