This Sunday’s readings: Psalm 126

Reflections

Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o-er wrought heart and bids it break.
~ William Shakespeare, Macbeth

The reason we don’t want to feel is that feeling exposes the tragedy of our world and the darkness of our hearts.
~ Dan Allender, The Cry of the Soul

A common but futile strategy for achieving joy is trying to eliminate things that hurt: get rid of pain by numbing the nerve ends, get rid of insecurity by eliminating risks, get rid of disappointment by depersonalizing your relationships. And then try to lighten the boredom of such a life by buying joy in the form of vacations and entertainment. There isn’t a hint of that in Psalm 126.
~ Eugene H. Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives? When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
~ Kahlil Gibran, 1883-1931, Author of ‘The Prophet’

The absence of tumult, more than its presence, is an enemy of the soul. God meets you in your weakness, not in your strength. He comforts those who mourn, not those who live above desperation. He reveals Himself more often in darkness than in the happy moments of life.
~ Dan B. Allender, Cry of the Soul