We FEEL
We feel. The human race is a complicated species. Unlike every other form of life on our green planet, it is the human being who is fully equipped and capable of feeling emotion. The type of emotion experienced or felt by other species in which many humans form bonds with (cats, dogs, horses, chipmunks, whatever) is vastly lacking in complexity when compared to that of any one person. Our minds have higher thinking processes. Our minds are capable of recalling memories rather than simply being conditioned. When a dog begins to mistrust it’s owner or our race in general, the “math” behind said distrust stems or can be attributed to learned behavior rather than the recollection of unpleasant memories.
All that being said to say yet again that we, the human race, feel. It is important to recognize that the word “feel” does not only apply to physical pain or pleasure but to emotional elation or depression.
I’ve often wondered what it would be like to not feel. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Equilibrium”, it is that question that is addressed. The movie depicts a word void of emotion. In this word, the human race simply lives to carry on as a race rather than taking joy or experiencing sorrow in their existence. At first glance one would probably suggest that a world free of sorrow would be a grand existence. Imagine a world where there was no pain, no grief, no death, no emotional backlash. Sounds pretty good eh? Sound a bit like heaven to me. We forget, however, that our world is nothing like heaven. There is “sin” in our world. So, a world without sorrow and only joy simply could not exist due to the fact that, in our world, someone’s joy or pleasure may cause another pain or may be at the expense of someone else. This is because we are a flawed species riddled with selfishness, hatred, violence, unforgiving hearts, lies, deceit, blame, and guilt.
Not only is our species flawed, but our world as well - Earthquakes, tsunamis, global warming, deprivation, etc. These things cannot be simply taken care of with a drug. So to remove emotions from the race wouldn’t even come close to “fixing” the problems that grief, sorrow, selfishness, etc. cause. To truly live in a perfect existence, the human race as well as the world would have to be “fixed”. We cannot create a heaven on earth.
Because our world is flawed we must endure the sorrows of this life. We must face difficult times. We must have our own worlds torn apart. We must have our hearts broken. We must hurt. We must hurt because it is through our pain and sorrow that we learn. It is through our pain and sorrow that we are made stronger. Who ever heard of being made stronger through times of joy or pleasure?
This has been a difficult concept for me to grasp as of late, BUT I think I’m finally beginning to understand. We cannot hope to survive in this world without having ever experienced pain or sorrow. We are being strengthened through our trials.
A now to better say what I have tried to say (because today’s insight was pretty poorly written):
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:2-12 (NIV)
Regularity
Sundays
Enough of my ranting.
Yesterday was a great day. I went to church and heard an incredible message on something that I really needed to hear. At First Irving we’ve been doing a weekly study on the names of God. The name Pastor John chose to address this week was “Jehovah Rophe”. Rophe in Hebrew means “to heal” and “to restore” and “to mend”. This was extremely encouraging for me.
Life has seasons of joy and bitterness. Life really is “fair” because eventually all of us are broken by it. God does not bring us to bitter waters to make us bitter, but to test what is genuinely inside.
It’s not the miracles that deepen our faith; it’s the difficulties.
A story on this subject can be found in Exodus 15:22-27. A short synopsis would be that even after Moses performed a miracle through God in the desert by giving the Israelites water, they still doubted 3 days later and began grumbling.
Miracles don’t do much to strengthen our faith.
In the case of “Rophe” – “to heal” / “to restore”, the meaning does not only apply to physical healing but emotional healing as well. The revelation, though I knew it already, was very comforting.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” – Psalm 147:3
The wounds here that are addressed in Psalms are “emotional” wounds rather than physical.
Onward
So from church I spent a few hours napping which was very beneficial due to the fact that I ended up staying out semi-late last night. I had dinner with Skyler and Tori (chicken enchiladas and a crazy awesome fruit tart courtesy of Tori – delicious) and finally opened up my package of Fantasia – Strawberry Lemonade shisha – VERY flavorful – definitely a new favorite.
From Skyler and Tori’s we headed to a hip new little bar/venue in Deep Ellum called “La Grange” to see The Fiero’s play. To say that they did well would be a vast understatement. For fans of The Black Keys and Jet. Raw guitars. Soaring harmonies. Bendy overdriven solos. Everyone should check them out.
They fit very nicely into that whole “music that causes one to feel”, “music of substance” rant I went on a few blogs ago. There’s something “soul tugging” about an overdriven Gibson Hollowbody screaming from a small stage. It’s all about the growls and the shrieks. You can definitely feel it in your core. Ah, Blues Rock – you have made me a believer in the power of human emotion – “Music you can feel”.
http://www.myspace.com/thefieros
From the show we headed to The Prophet Bar to hang out with Erick and friends as the shift ended. Funny story – so there was this one drunken idiot at the bar who apparently decided to get up on stage and “rap” about some really perverse things which involved one of the lady bartenders we know. When she refused to serve him afterwards, he called her some names and stormed out. Needless to say, all of us, especially Erick, were pretty sour towards the guy. And so, Erick took it upon himself, being the chivalrous gentleman he is, to confront the guy and demand he apologize for what he had said. The conversation that followed was pretty awkward yet hilarious.
Drunk Guy: “Man, I’m a cool %&*$# dude. I bring love. You coming all over hear spreading mad negatively like you’re gonna $%&^* fight me. I’m a cool ^%&*^ dude and you’re making me feel like %&#%! I’m all about bringing the love! Peace!”
Well, the guy never apologized and Erick was as nice about it as you can possibly be in this situation, but the whole conversation was like trying to explain astro-physics to a 12 year old. The guy apparently thought there was nothing wrong with what he had said and that it should have been flattering. Pretty strange what too much alcohol can do to you. Haha
So the night was good. Today has been pretty boring with school and such but I look forward to tomorrow and being able to check out a new church that has a Tuesday night college thing. It’s great to have things to look forward to again; things of substance; nights like last night; days like Saturday; “good” times with “great” people.
On a final note…… so yeah health care……have fun with that…….I’m heading to Nazareth – home of the first American.
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