Coyans in the Czech Republic

lent

the path of sorrow and humility

Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, "Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, 'In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me'? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You're going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You'll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.
"When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there's no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you'll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You'll no longer be so full of questions.

John 16:19-23

"Our godliness can often be measured by the line between our pride and humility. Scripture tells us that God has placed a spirit of "fierce desires" in us. Pride can ignite these God-given desires into an occasion for doing wrong. Humility, on the other hand, makes room for God, who tempers and directs our desires, and guides us to lasting fulfillment.
Lent is a season well suited to practicing humility. Scripture tells us that Jesus humbled himself and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (a more humiliating event could not have been imagined). So we practice humility as a way to follow Jesus, and to cast off all our ineffective, prideful attempts at self-promotion, self-salvation, and self-satisfaction.
When we remember that Jesus' death is our only hope, and that all our efforts to save ourselves are at best short-term solutions and doomed to fail, we weep for our condition. But we also need to remember that humiliation and remorse, both appropriate responses to God, are temporary. Because on Easter day, the humble are lifted up, and those who mourn are comforted with an everlasting comfort."
(thank you Devotions for Lent)

Yesterday during our Lent service, we were talking about the purpose of sadness and sorrow and the difference between happiness and joy. In my opinion, there is no stated right that we should be happy, for happiness is a fleeting emotion brought on by circumstance and taken away as quickly as it came. Joy is the fruit of a life lived walking on God's path, walking closely with Him and it is like a fire within us that no unhappy situation can quench. Sadness and sorrow, too, have their place and purpose in our everyday lives. During this time of the year we embrace the sorrow we feel because of our sin, the remorse and the weight of the guilt. Yes, we are guilty. We did it. No finger pointing here. We must feel the weight of it to begin to understand what our sin has cost, and the suffering that Jesus endured. Not just physical pain and humiliation, but the separation from His Father as He bore our sins for us. We must understand so that we can accept our need for redemption and be grateful. Not just a "Golly, Jesus, thanks.", but the gratitude that comes when a death sentence has been commuted. I long to have that awareness...of my sin and the price that was paid...then to feel the gratitude.