Posted by juanito on June 23, 1999 at 07:46:01:
it is instructive to note Jesus' joyful times?
for surely He was always aware, at some level, of the immense human suffering that surrounded Him?
even as He turned water into wine?
even as He alluded constantly to the beauties of nature and life?
our hearts, transformed, are they big enough to contain it all?
the tears and the laughter? and to know that there is a season, turn, turn, turn ...for everything under the sun ... and, in the final analysis, it's all going to be okay!
isn't it?
ultimately, "it is well with my soul" must contain the sentiment and assertion that "it will be well with all souls" and our hearts must be willing to bear all sorrows and sufferings of the world even as they bear all of its hopes and joys
if one's prayer life does not yield the fruit of solidarity and compassion, does not carve out a space in one's heart big enough for sorrow and joy, does not move our every concern from the realm of i, me, mine to we, us, our ... it has nothing to do with contemplation and everything to do with an insidious, sterile, narcissistic, introspective navel-gazing
Lord, deliver us, US
jboy