True Joy (poem)

True joy,
Is not found in fame,
Or power,
Or money,
Or even family.
All things fade.
The good in them does not last.
It does not satisfy in the end.
Only the brokenness which exists,
Between us and God,
Only when it is fixed,
Then,
And only then will we find true joy.
Joy in God.
And then all other blessings will find there places,
Once the brokenness is gone.

The Messiness of Life

Post by
Michelle Dowell
Co-Contributor

A theology that is missing an acknowledgement of the messiness of life is deficient. I heard a pastor say once "God is a God of order." That is absolutely true, but I am more encouraged to know that God is a God who, in his mercy, allows people in a messy world with a messy nature to still take part in serving him.

This fallen condition of the world and humans is a hard reality, but the fact that we are allowed to participate in God's work of loving and helping people and honoring him in the midst of it all--that is what is encouraging. It's broken, but we're called to work with that brokenness, to help when we can to put pieces back together if it's possible. Let's focus on that, but also not forget the state of everything being tainted by the Fall. It's discouraging to always try to grasp for the impossible of perfection in this life.

It's sad to see so many Christians try so hard to always force a smile. It's as if they feel if they don't appear that everything is perfect and in order in their life and if they aren't happy in that moment, something is missing. They may feel that their smile doesn't look forced, but often it's easy to see if a person is forcing it if a person is really wanting to know.

I'm not saying that Christians should grumpily walk around. Christians should show more genuine emotions. They should trust that it's okay to not feel happy every moment of the day, and to allow others to see that. It may mean not having much of an expression but it's honest and frees others of the pressure to pretend to be what one is not.


It's not one or the other: Not happy or sad all the time. But a variety of emotions at different times. This is life. It is an adventure, a calling, a journey.

Wisdom

In life ideally we should live by wisdom. You see a lot of the world and even a lot of the church live simply by rules in an unthinking way.

It does not matter if this or that makes sense because the rule is as it is. You see it goes further, it is not simply that the rule is being upheld because it is the current rule.

If this were simply the issue people could look and see the rule has an issue. But people often won't question the rule.

And that is the issue: the rules are unchangeable because we cannot think otherwise and brokenness is unchangeable because broken rules cannot be changed.

It is all absolute. Thought is gone and there is no rational behind action.

Action is easy. It is based upon unthinking principles. It is no wonder the great mess in the world and church. You see so much of life goes on with so little thought.

In the end thinking protects and guards mankind rather than hinders mankind. We would do better as a race if we were all thoughtful rather than living blindly and unquestioningly.

But often we live by rules which are so absolute they allow no wisdom. And that is why the Bible's call to wisdom is important and counter cultural.