Little Me ... Big Universe
I feel like I'm all alone. That no one can possibly understand what I'm going through. As if my experiences and feelings I suffer through are most unique in this vast universe. Me vs. Nature. Me vs. Man. Me vs. Self.
I know that's bogus. I'm not the first - nor the last - to suffer through things. But why does it feel like it?
I hate that our finite mind can't extend beyond the invisible walls that surround our Self to lodge itself into someone else's experience so we feel exactly what they're feeling - and honestly say, "I know how you feel." Because, really, we don't. We can only draw from our own personal experiences ... and even then, we can't be 100% certain we know exactly how the person feels.
Then again, I might not want anyone to get a glimpse of my heart ... and see silly things I desire, or the terrible thoughts I think, or muddle through the shameful things that plague me.
There's one thing I always find odd in people's experiences though ... that they never need religion until they really need religion. I'm guilty of it too.
We go in life as the captain of our ship and go where we want, until a big storm comes along and we're stuck tumbling through huge waves and all of a sudden ... we need an intervention. I, the captain, can't figure it out. I, the person running the ship, can't seem to make things work. I, who must have complete control over the navigations in my life, have to surrender to the winds and storms.
But in that midst, if someone could get into this captain's heart, it can be heard calling out ... to someone ... something ... some greater, higher being. As if screaming into the skies would calm the storm. But even though the storm still rages, suddenly a hope sparks within that everything is going to be okay. A voice - heard only in the heart, but just as loud as if someone screamed it - says, "Everything is going to be okay." And rest assured, within time, the winds calm, the storm backs off, and the ship softly dances above the peaceful waters again.
People say they don't need religion. They don't need God. They don't want religion. Or God. And sure, when life is going well, who wants to give credit to someone or something as ridiculous as this unseen, unknown being in the heavens who is an enigma, a force no one will ever come close enough to understanding? But when there are bumps in the road, people are desperate to reach out and grab something to help hold their heads above water.
Maybe that's why there's loneliness in the world. Why I can't feel your pain, or you mine. Why my sympathy and empathy for others can only extend as far as my mind would allow - in my own experiences. Because we are, in a way, meant to be alone. To feel lonely in our experiences. Because if we were needed by others ... or needed others ... to the point we've dissolved our loneliness ... there'd be no need for God in our lives. And like the psalmist says, He walks with us ... then carries us when we need it.
People fight religion in life. "I don't need God. He's not real." But on their death bed, even those people who fought so hard against God in life are fighting to hear from Him too in those last moments - asking for mercy. Calling out, not knowing where the soul will go upon entering eternal sleep ... once the ship has docked for the final time.
And what a very, very lonely thought that could be if you don't know ...
I know that's bogus. I'm not the first - nor the last - to suffer through things. But why does it feel like it?
I hate that our finite mind can't extend beyond the invisible walls that surround our Self to lodge itself into someone else's experience so we feel exactly what they're feeling - and honestly say, "I know how you feel." Because, really, we don't. We can only draw from our own personal experiences ... and even then, we can't be 100% certain we know exactly how the person feels.
Then again, I might not want anyone to get a glimpse of my heart ... and see silly things I desire, or the terrible thoughts I think, or muddle through the shameful things that plague me.
There's one thing I always find odd in people's experiences though ... that they never need religion until they really need religion. I'm guilty of it too.
We go in life as the captain of our ship and go where we want, until a big storm comes along and we're stuck tumbling through huge waves and all of a sudden ... we need an intervention. I, the captain, can't figure it out. I, the person running the ship, can't seem to make things work. I, who must have complete control over the navigations in my life, have to surrender to the winds and storms.
But in that midst, if someone could get into this captain's heart, it can be heard calling out ... to someone ... something ... some greater, higher being. As if screaming into the skies would calm the storm. But even though the storm still rages, suddenly a hope sparks within that everything is going to be okay. A voice - heard only in the heart, but just as loud as if someone screamed it - says, "Everything is going to be okay." And rest assured, within time, the winds calm, the storm backs off, and the ship softly dances above the peaceful waters again.
People say they don't need religion. They don't need God. They don't want religion. Or God. And sure, when life is going well, who wants to give credit to someone or something as ridiculous as this unseen, unknown being in the heavens who is an enigma, a force no one will ever come close enough to understanding? But when there are bumps in the road, people are desperate to reach out and grab something to help hold their heads above water.
Maybe that's why there's loneliness in the world. Why I can't feel your pain, or you mine. Why my sympathy and empathy for others can only extend as far as my mind would allow - in my own experiences. Because we are, in a way, meant to be alone. To feel lonely in our experiences. Because if we were needed by others ... or needed others ... to the point we've dissolved our loneliness ... there'd be no need for God in our lives. And like the psalmist says, He walks with us ... then carries us when we need it.
People fight religion in life. "I don't need God. He's not real." But on their death bed, even those people who fought so hard against God in life are fighting to hear from Him too in those last moments - asking for mercy. Calling out, not knowing where the soul will go upon entering eternal sleep ... once the ship has docked for the final time.
And what a very, very lonely thought that could be if you don't know ...
posted by Pazz at 3:36 AM
1 Comments:
love it. very insightful and true. i've recently learned to always have God in my heart. to listen for Him. He is the one constant in a world where there isn't any.
--starr
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