F-Words and Beyond

It's been an F***ing few days.

The "F-word" here is Feel.  I've been feeling a lot of things recently, and to quote what my roommate said one night about feelings: "They suck."

Now, as a Feeler and a (music) therapist, I'm all for feelings, and I believe they are healthy indicators of many things if received and processed in a healthy manner.  But sometimes, feelings are just too much to handle.

While my life has been wonderful these couple of weeks--I've had nice visits with my parents, good times with friends in the great outdoors, and some fun swing dances--there has been a heaviness that has weighed on my heart.  It seems that, just by going through life on earth, I have been absorbing so much of the sorrow around me, and I have been carrying the sorrow of others upon my shoulders even as, externally, this season of extroversion has been enjoyable.

A few things have been carrying me through.

Friend:

I realized the other day that I needed to stop carrying my burdens alone.  My best Friend has been waiting gently for me to cast my cares upon Him.  Once I did, He gave me rest.  Jesus is the best Friend I could ever ask for.

Faith:

I reviewed Hebrews chapter 11, also known as the "Faith Chapter" of the Bible.  From October 2012-December 2013, I committed this passage to memory, slowly meditating on each verse and allowing living examples to strengthen my faith.  I want to keep these verses fresh in my heart, as I'll need a lot of faith in this upcoming transition.

In the alphabet, "G" comes after "F", so I'll move from "F-words" to "G-words".

God:

This is a word that so many people use and relate to in their own ways.  But for me, the only way I can have a healthy view of and relationship with God is through the above-mentioned Friend.  "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me," the Friend once said, and His Friendship is the reason I can come to God when I'm feeling weak and broken and messed up inside.

Gregorian Chant:

I've been listening to Gregorian Chants on YouTube, and it has done wonders for my weary soul.  To quote Victor Hugo: “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.”  'Nuff said!