In the course of life ...

In the course of life, one faces difficult decisions. One may face two options at once or three if one is so lucky. An open door does not necessarily mean that it is the right one. Likewise, a closed door does not mean it is the wrong one. Some wear their emotions on their sleeves. Others hide them so well that no one can interpret their feelings. And there are those who do not know or understand that aspect of themselves. What do you do when you feel locked out of every available door? Do you pound on the door hoping someone would open it for you? Do you break it down? Or do you walk away? Sometimes pounding on the door makes us feel better as if we are accomplishing something. It does not necessarily mean we care whether the door opens or not. We are seeking help. If no one is on the other side to open it, we place blame elsewhere. Sometimes breaking the door down makes us feel productive and prove our strength. It does not matter whether the results are beneficial or not. Sometimes walking away makes us feel that we’ve accepted the situation as is. But it may reap regrets.  

In the course of time, one faces disappointments, betrayals, tears, and rejections. These encompass all areas of life such as home, school, work, church. These can be from family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, church folk, and people at large. What do you do when you have so much pain and there is no remedy in sight? Do you continue tampering with your open wounds until infected? Do you ignore the wounds and deny their existence? Or do you nurse the wounds until you’re whole again? Sometimes playing with the wounds cause horrific pain that is lived over and over again every time the wound is tampered with. Sometimes denying the existence of wounds render us emotionally impeded or numb. Sometimes nursing our wounds is hard work for it requires discipline, determination, and tenacity. 

In the course of life, we have to carry burdens. Each of us has to bear his or her own burdens. We may have to carry others’ burdens as well. These can range from spiritual to the physical and includes the emotional and psychological. What do you do when you feel weak or inadequate to carry others burdens; let alone yours? Do you unload all of your burdens and run away? Do you hold the burdens and complain every second of every day? Or do you carry the burden appreciating the fact that your muscles are getting stronger? Sometimes unloading all burdens just delays the inevitable for everyone reaps what he or she sows. Sometimes complaining ensures our burdens to be heavier and intolerable. Sometimes a thankful attitude causes our burdens to be featherlike. 

As you can see, the game of life is full of decisions. Behind every action is a decision. Every action is received with a reaction. Wondering why people are treating you the way they do? Look in the mirror and objectively test your motives. Our motives are the fuel that drives our actions. Some can read your motives better than they can read your actions. Our motives can repel others away and have the potential to attract others to us. You have the choice. You can choose how to treat others and how you allow others to treat you. Not doing anything is also a choice. 

This is the game of life which is here today and can be gone in seconds. What about afterwards? What do you do when there are a lot of religions and theories of the afterlife? Do you deny the existence of the afterlife altogether? Do you randomly pick one or remain believing in the theories of your ancestry? Or do you seek the truth? Sometimes denying the existence of anything in life renders us clueless and foolish.  Sometimes accepting something because of convenience ensures we miss out and will cause regrets. Sometimes seeking the truth is hard work. The knocking on every door to determine whether it is the truth or a deception is exhausting on many levels. 

If you decide to seek the truth, consider Jesus Christ. He said in the book of Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” He is not here today and gone tomorrow like many fad religions. He is not positive words to repeat every day to remain positive and have a feel good attitude. He is not a series of actions to appease Him. He does not require harm or bloodshed to befall unbelievers in His name. He is not blind to the happenings of the world. He does not turn a deaf ear to the hurting or the victimized. He is God. He is as alive as you and me. He can hear, see, feel everything happening especially the actions performed in the darkest hour. He knows you better than you know yourself. He tests your heart before your actions. He understands why you act the way you do. He sympathizes with you. He empathizes with you. He loves you even when you do not love yourself. He gently speaks His love to you. Even if the whole world rejects you, He is waiting with open arms. Do you feel unworthy? No one is worthy of His love. Do you feel abandoned by Him? What makes you so sure He was not there for you? Our pain can be so severe that we cannot see the truth. Ask Him to show you the truth. He will. Do you feel like you are the only one experiencing this trauma? You are not. There are many who experienced what you do and can be very supportive of you. Look up. Ask Him for help. He may help you directly. He may send someone to help you. He may have someone pray for you. He may send an article or video that you need. Do you feel alone?  He promised in Matthew 28: latter of 20, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”