Good Grief

I've always loved Charlie Brown. Never did I realize how amazing his legendary quote really is.

Good Grief.

Something so simple yet true beyond our wildest dreams. As I was trying to figure out what I wanted to title my blog I came up with two titles " Good Grief " and " Technicolor in a Black and White World ", the latter inching in ahead of it's competition. I think I stuck with

"TIABAWW" or "TBW" due to it being more general and vast in it's explanation and meaning.

But I'm almost sad I didn't get to use Good Grief as my url.

I think for most of us as human beings, we are constantly being effected by the grief and pain of this world. In the end it is for our benefit as we all know we learn from the tough times much more than the not-so-tough ones. (notice how I didn't say "easy times"... I mean, since when has life EVER been easy?!?!)

Good Grief... I think one can even take the phrase and apply it in a spiritual sense. Christ suffered all the sins and pains of the world, this I truly believe. The grief we create or receive, becomes his. However terrible and insurmountable, these trials and tribulations are for our benefit and good. I am shocked during the moments of deep reflection where I am down and out about the difficulties of life and realize that someone has already been there and done that, and to add, has taken everyone else's burdens and pain along with the almost seemingly impossible struggles I personally deal with. How is it even possible to conceive what that must've been like for the 33 year old son of Mary in the Garden of Gethsemane to have to deal with such a task?

I don't even want to really know. I'd rather just acknowledge that Christ is the Son of God and accept his great atoning sacrifice for I am but a peon in contrast to the mighty spiritual Giant who is my Savior.

My burdens nevertheless seem almost too much to deal with at times. I hope it's not me being ungrateful. I mean I know "He" is with me during these times. But there are moments when I feel like He leaves me to teach me an important lesson in life and to realize how many angels are constantly lifting me up. A friend of mine always calls these moments of desertion and trial being " left in the desert ".

And when I'm alone and feel cast out and forgotten by my maker and a world of black and white seems to enter in my vision and all is doom and gloom, a small voice still seems to whisper to me in those dark places I tend to find myself in many a day and says " this is but a portion...". Good thing it was only a portion... life can truthfully be so damn tough sometimes...I realize how small and unimportant I am in the grand scheme of things. This sense of humility is good for me. It's good for all of us.

9 times out of 10 what ails me more than anything are matters of the heart. Be it my spiritual heart, and the worries of my eternal salvation or most commonly, love •

That being said... in order for me to survive these times of black and white, the thought that this grief I have has been shared/suffered by the only perfect human being who personally knows what I'm dealing with, gives me at the least, a sense that I'm not alone in the slightest way. It can totally suck to not have a soul mate to be with me yet. Until then I have to try to see the "good" in my grief.

So when these trials come, they are what they are...I need to deal. Good Grief!