peace . love . joy

Elinor from Jane Austen's 'Sense & Sensibility' probably came a far way since when she was a child. Full of sense, prudence, tact and obligation, she even goes to the extent of swallowing her true feelings and keeping them thus concealed within her tortured being to spare her more emotionally-driven mother and two sisters any depression. Probably not all of us are like her in that capacity; able to keep even our feelings secret and utterly private, we need at least someone to share what weighs upon our hearts with.

But still, should we compare ourselves now and with ourselves when we were but children, I would daresay we too are a far enough cry from our younger days.

As children, most of us would probably not care how our actions and behaviors and expressions would affect our standing in society. We knew not the meaning of self-control, neither did we know when to exercise it. We simply acted in the manner we felt like at that moment. If we were happy, heard a tune being played and felt like dancing, we would! If we were just spanked and were surprised and physically hurt, we'd cry. If we felt like showing love, or requiring comfort, we'd run and hug our parents tightly.

Growing up, we are taught not to allow our expressions of emotions free reign.
We are taught self-control.
Self-control is not bad, though. Where it is exercised wisely, it yields great and good results and consequences.

But methinks we over-do it, or we've yet to know when it is appropriate to be controlled, but when to let 'em lose. We have too much concern for our 'image', to aware of the fragility of our dignity, too proud to be 'un-civilised', too afraid to reveal. No doubt we still express our inner feelings, but in a more muted fashion. No longer do we burst out in song or dance when we feel elated, no longer to we crumple and collapse in a pleading, sobbing heap when we feel sad or dejected..

When you worship the Creator, the Forgiver, the Lover, our God, writing a song for Him, helping someone cross the street, offering your seat to someone who needs it more than you do, consoling a friend, encouraging the discouraged, disciplining and advising the young..
When you sit content in His presence and bask in the glorious sunshine of His love..
When sickness of heart grips you in its iron fists..
When you feel alone..

Allow yourself to courageously behave like a fool for the Wisest.
Be a child once more and tear off the mask on your face that is vital in expressions, for I do not think He chose to riddle our bodies with sinews of muscle and ligaments to stand controlled and our feelings supressed in His presence. No, I believe He gave us physical strength to worship Him, and emotional strength to take our 'silly-ness'.
Show your emotions in your own ways; dancing, singing, skipping, drawing, painting, creating, smiling, clapping, stomping, running, hugging, kneeling, bowing, crying, sobbing, sitting, lying, punching, speak, play, etc.

Unabashedly and unrestrainedly express your joy in the Lord!
Uncontrollably and brokenly express your sadness to the Lord!
And all the in betweens, mixtures and corners..



God's Own Fool (Michael Card)

seems i've imagined Him all of my life as the wisest of all of mankind,
but if God's holy wisdom is foolish to men He must have seemed out of His mind.
for even His family said He was mad, and the priests said the demons' to blame!
but God in the form of this angry young man could not have seemed perfectly sane.

we in our foolishness thought we were wise, He played the foold and He opened our eyes.
when we in our weakness believed we were strong, He became helpless to show we were wrong.
so we follow God's own fool, for only the foolish can tell.
believe the unbelievable!
come be a fool as well!

so come lose your life for a carpenter's son, for a mad man who died for a dream,
and you'll have the faith his first followers had, and you'll feel the weight of the beam.
so surrender the hunger to say you must know! have the courage to say i believe!
for the power of paradox opens your eyes and blinds those who say they can see.

we in our foolishness thought we were wise, He played the foold and He opened our eyes.
and we in our weakness believed we were strong, He became helpless to show we were wrong
so we follow God's own fool, for only the foolish can tell.
believe the unbelievable!
come be a fool as well!