I would like to present a concept of irony: feelings are superficial. Funny, considering that superficiality is defined as lack of depth of knowledge, thought or feeling. Ok, I’ll stop chasing my tail now.
You ever had one of those friends who just get you? complete your sentences for you? Do not overreact when you caution or rebuke them? Always available to stand in for someone who stood you up? Always the first people you call when you are feeling down, or when you have elating news? I sure hope you have, because they would demonstrate this concept easier.
If you are a guy, and the kind of person I’m describing here is a girl, then not even the other girl you like comes close to what you guys have, in a word, the comparative term would be superficial. One carries more depth in value than the other.
Feelings are the same. Inasmuch as some of them call for memorably great experiences, they are at best superficial, they do not come close to the alternative God offers, virtues that run so deep that they are entrenched in our thought pattern and therefore our character, feelings take a back seat and only surface for significant impacts at our weakest, gullible or vulnerable moments. The fact is, they offer no growth value in character building when they are most potent, like symptoms to a health complication, so are feelings-they point to the root cause, the origin of the reaction.
Let’s take a look at someone who is really having a bad week.
His boss just trashed his two-week report, and was asked to redo it. His car was totaled by his pedal-happy cousin, his mortgage is due, and he can’t make the payment. His girlfriend just broke up with him. All this happens in just one week. So what options does he have?
- Sulk
He can feel sorry for himself, and drown in an endless sea of self-pity and low esteem. He can choose intoxication to attempt a chemical alleviation of what he feels inside, only to wake up the next morning and find the situation has not self-resolved. He can choose to hate his cousin, and tell him to find a new cousin to freeload on, he can choose to loath his girlfriend for breaking his heart, and making a grown man cry. He can choose to redo the report, but opt to run over his boss should he ever see him crossing the street in front of him. He can choose all these, yes he can.
2. Persevere
The feelings in this situation closely resemble what is mentioned in situation 1. The difference is when his boss trashes his report, he positively goes back to the drawing board, having accepted that he might as well redo it. When his cousin totals his car, he quietly decides to forgive him, though it wasn’t easy. When his girlfriend dumps him, well, one can only persevere….
While all the feelings are boiling inside of him; anger, sadness, melancholy, disappointment, and perhaps a tint of hate, he chooses not to base his reactions on them, instead he relies on what little patience that lies within him. He chooses to be gentle to his freeloading cousin, and to forgive his girlfriend. All these act contrary to what his body is feeling, contrary to what the feelings prescribe as a reaction.
Take a look at this:
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12: 9-21
I don’t know about you, but I don’t remember a situation that developed from emotional upheavals that ended well. If ever I reacted following the prescription of my feelings, I would end up feeling worse that before……
Let’s take a closer walk with God, no more surface perceptions, let’s try an in-depth relationship with Him, if only to rise above our superficial life values…..
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