The quote from Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal Dreams" conveys the idea that pain can affect us immediately and intensely, almost like a jolt of electricity. It suggests that emotional distress can penetrate our hearts rapidly, leaving a lasting impact. This illustrates the immediate nature of suffering and its ability to disrupt our lives without warning.

In contrast, the passage highlights that truth, while equally important, tends to be a gradual process. It compares the movement of truth to the slow and steady flow of a glacier, suggesting that understanding and acceptance often take time. This emphasizes that while pain can strike quickly, finding and embracing the truth is a more deliberate journey.