Further Thoughts...

I haven't been writing... rather reading. Continuing my third journey through the Bible, it being the only consistent thing happening this year. My recent travels have gone over Galatians and Ephesians, then into Philippians and Colossians. These are often clumped together and I had to take note of the themes that Paul touches on in each of them:

Galatians - Salavation
Ephesians - Unity
Philippians - Joy
Colossians - Consistency

Guess which one REALLY stuck out to me amidst all the bullcrap that's been slung around lately?

Philippians. This book is about JOY. Not so much the feeling, but the choice of it. And why does Paul focus his words on this? Because God knew with the fall of Adam and Eve that no one would be exempt from suffering... pain, loss, depression, violence, fear, anger, self-loathing, NONE of it! Suffering has always spread to all people on the planet in some bitter, teary shape.

We can think easily on our own examples of suffering. And we can easily get tunnel vision about it; convince ourselves that I'm the only one hurting, no one else knows how I'm suffering. If we took off those blinders however, we'd find that it's not true.

Admittedly, some people have been hurt worse then others. I can't say why. But talking about raw pain- where suffering leaves you in shreds- we've all carried such emotion in our hearts, regardless of what circumstances put it there. Should we take the time to realize that, we would find ways to connect and not feel so alone. We'd release our animosities and judgements and find we could fight together against the pain of suffering. All in hopes of healing- if not learning- from our pain.

Philippians and its message of joy was written from prison. It was penned by Paul, a man with deep-seated scars across his back and the memories of threats, angry mobs, and a shipwreck. Yet, he encourages us to choose joy. So that we may triumph over everything else.

JOY. It seems like one of the more important things to seek out right now.