We should feel more

I have a friend that's going through a hard time, who's been hit on every side. Tonight it made my heart hurt hearing about everything they're going through. And it made me think. There's a lot of bad stuff going on in the world. There's people I love experiencing pain, hardship, loneliness. Syria is a mess. Today we remembered the tragedy of 9/11. There's people starving, dying of cancer, and homeless. There are hurting children, victims of their circumstances. There have been storms that have swept people and homes away. So much sadness! And immediately my human tendency is to push away the negativity and try to think more positive thoughts. And even a lot of you are probably already thinking that this post is too much of a "debbie downer" and might discontinue reading because of it. But I don't think that sadness is something to be avoided. Sadness is part of life. And feeling other peoples sadness is part living that life. Trying to be more positive is a good idea, but not when it's a method of deflecting. Trying to make someone smile or laugh is a nice distraction, but distracting from reality is not always necessary. Sometimes life is just bleak, the light at the end of the tunnel is no where in sight, and the silver lining is not making an appearance anytime soon. And it's in these moments that I need to surrender to the tears threatening to ensue, let go of the jokes that divert my attention away from reality, and just let myself be sad. And allow myself to feel the sadness of others. Now in this process I cannot forget that, though hope seems lost, hope is not gone. That though faith seems forgotten, it can still move mountains. And that, though God may seem far away, He's right by my side. I cannot fix people, but I can to my best to look after orphans and widows in their distress. I can't fix everything, but I can pray without ceasing to a God that holds the world in the palm of His hand. Tears spent on the behalf of others are precious, tough they should not be rare. Now I'm not suggesting that we spend our whole lives wallowing in sadness. But I am suggesting that maybe we should feel a little bit more and hold back tears a little bit less. That maybe Harriet Beecher Stowe was right when she said,

"But, what can any individual do? Of that, every individual can judge. There is one thing that every individual can do,—they can see to it that they feel right. An atmosphere of sympathetic influence encircles every human being; and the man or woman who feels strongly, healthily and justly, on the great interests of humanity, is a constant benefactor to the human race."