Don't be surprised by pain. Be surprised by joy, be surprised by the little flower that shows its beauty in the midst of a barren desert; and be surprised by the immense healing power that keeps bursting forth like springs of fresh water from the depth of our pain.---Fr. Henri J.M Nouwen, from his book, "Finding my way Home"
"What wondrous love is this O my soul, O my soul?" --Hymn
We should not live this gift of life demanding anything. We should live this life with gratitude and humility. But we can't do this. We demand everything, from what we need to what we want. God is merciful. We even demand mercy! We must stop seeing Him this way. He is not our sugar daddy in the sky waiting for us to get it right so He can bless us. This is wrong thinking. This view of God will always lead us to despair. You and I can do everything right today, and we will still suffer. We will still face disappointment and frustration. We will still get sick. We will still die. Jesus did everything right, did He suffer? So what is the point? HOPE! We are a people of hope. And this hope is in a loving Lord Who only wants the best for our souls, even if it seems He is letting our souls fall apart at times. If you must have God and your spiritual life always figured out, you will always be filled with the blues. On the other hand, if you can widen your heart for love, trust, and mystery, and can teach your eyes to see the beauty in the midst of a horrifying cross, you will be surprised by joy.
wkm
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