Stuff

What do hardships tell us about life and our ourselves? One simple response to the first question is that 'life is hard'; Scott Peck began his book with this very line. In short, life is a series of beginnings and endings, and the jubilation of the mountain top experiences and the despair of walking in the valley. And no matter how hard we try, none of us are perfect, so this infallibility is always the cause hurt and pain.Moving onto to the second question, what do hardships
tell us about ourselves? To me, it highlights the desire we all have. That is to feel good all the time, and for all our relationships to be healthy.
But in light in what I've previously said about life, one would have to ask how realistic this is? Would it be more practical to think that trials and tribulations, and the mountain top moments are the essence of existing. And when one feels depressed, like I have at times this year, we are just merely existing.
However, as a Christian I feel I need to take this sentiment a little further. Perhaps to exist is to be more in the image of God (Gen 1:27) as time goes by. Perhaps there is an art to suffering like Rob Bell tells us, and it involves us changing.

An understanding.

It is only when we experience the extremes of something that we really understand what it is. Take the way we feel as an example, one can only really know what it is to be happy and content when they have been in the depths of sadness and loss. The truth is, times of deep sadness ultimately brings meaning to periods of happiness and contentment for the simple reason that they are such opposite states. And it's for this reason why there is more to these times that meets the eye, seasons of sadness are not only a periods of time to be endured, but they are just as formative as the happy times.

I find myself in one these unhappy seasons at the moment, and it's been a while. There are moments when what I have written doesn't seem all that tangible at all, but I hope it's becoming more of a reality in my life.

Happy New Year!

I always find that at the beginning of a New Year all my long term hopes are so very apparent, I realise all the more that I still haven't found that special person. However, that's Ok, I really don't want that to define me, or my own existence. But there is always that temptation to minimise hope, maybe telling yourself that your better of on your own, or that your time will come. While there may be an element of truth in these, they are not a part of hope, they are just diversions. The thing is, hope is there to be embraced in all its fullness despite all the uncertainties of life. So I hope, this year, that I meet the woman that fits me. Who will stand and work through all the difficulties relationships inevitably bring, and will be honoured by me.
That is my hope for this year, come what may.