Babies have it made. They scream and throw tantrums whenever they want and someone just rocks them to sleep or feeds them. When they are done screaming they are so peaceful. Their expression of emotion knows no boundaries. To survive they are supposed to express themselves dramatically, like a psalmist. During the time of the psalms things were not great, but these people know how to use language to throw a tantrum. Everywhere you look God is abandoning them, someone is putting on sack cloth, or there is some unnamed enemy out to get them. Talk about drama queens…yeesh. But they are able to bring it back to God is good, worthy of praise, and our savior. I’m slowly realizing that the psalmists are the scriptural versions of infants. Whatever they feel they say, with all they got, in order to fully live.
In our lives it’s looked down upon to overtly express yourself. I’m not saying that it’s a good idea to stomp your foot and pout when you don’t get your way (though I’ve been known to do that…’cause I’m always rightJ) but what is wrong with expressing ourselves? What is wrong with not always being even keel? What is wrong with sometimes being so passionate about something that you get angry? What is wrong with caring so much that sometimes you just can’t stop smiling? Some call it silly and immature…I dare you to tell a psalmists that. This week of reading psalms I learned something and I want to pass it along. Whatever you are feeling…feel it with all ya’ got. Share it with others, in a way that won’t send them running, but don’t hide it. Be your silly self, be your angry self, be your joyous self…just be yourself!
Blessings,
Justin
