Column: Emotions

Hello friends! As a means to write more and grow my talent, I decided to start writing a weekly column for the newspaper (instead of the sporadic ones that came every now and then). They will appear every Friday in the Sweetwater Reporter in the Viewpoints section under the "Random Writer" headline. I started last week, and haven't had a chance until now to post it.

Be on the look out for this week's column in the paper, which will be posted here within the next few days! If you like it, comment, share and promote it! Right now I'm focused on just being a writer, not a journalist. I want to be able to use this current platform to write about Jesus and my life, and hopefully it can take me to other places!

(original publication date: Friday, September 12, 2014)
Random Writer
"Emotions"

We live in an abbreviated world. We purchase for the sake of convenience, we love the thought of saving time. Yes, there are some things that we purposely draw out in an effort to savor the moments or make memories but in most cases, we're always on the go. 

But sometimes, the little things begin to pile on and it seems as if everything stretches out. And in most cases, the little things tend to be the bad things, because misery loves company. 

We look at the world today and these words--these ever-so-short words, tend to incite fear or anxiety.  

Ferguson. Ebola. ISIS.  

Sickness. Famine. War. 

A lot of times, we live in our own bubble. We have awareness of what is going on--or actually, some people don't--but believe that the danger or threat is too far away. As long as the turmoil doesn't come into our part of the woods, we acknowledge it, we pray about it, and we let it fade from our memory banks. 

But when the sorrows infiltrate our own world, our little piece of livelihood, our road meets a rocky path and our bubble starts to deflate a little. As the world immediately around us seems to start crumbling, so do our emotions and outlook on life. 

I shared this the other day on my blog and social media: It's okay to deal with the emotions, but we cannot take residence there. Because in the moment that the emotions take an overwhelming toll on our thoughts, we have lost sight of the One who has placed us in the emotions, through a series of occurrences and events, for such a time as this. 

My heart ached hearing the news of little Randy Rodriguez on Wednesday afternoon. In a profession where, some feel, bias and emotion should be on the backburner, there was no way to leave the feelings at bay. This little child has only lived for six years, and this monster of a tumor is taking away his chance to live a longer life. 

But in the midst of the sorrow, displayed throughout social media, there is cause for celebration. To rejoice over this little life and what he loves. To help in granting a wish that could very well change the mindset of a young man through balloons in a most festive gathering.  

This heartache is bringing our community, friends and mere acquaintances, together in a united cause. To put our own agendas and struggles and misery aside and put things into perspective. Yes, we will have our own troubles in the world, but for the most part there will always be someone dealing with something much worse than you. And no matter how great or small the trouble may be, or how long (or brief) it may seem to last, Jesus said that he overcame it.  

We can--and should--dwell in that thought and look to Him. Not just in the bad times, but in the good times as well.