On emotions.

Like waves crash in on the shore and recede back to the depths of the sea.

Like the rhythm of our breath in and out of our lungs.

So our emotions. The joy, the terror, the passion, the anger. Intense love and bitter hatred.

Desire and grief.

I believe our socialization (norms of modern society) frowns on tears, and on sorrow which composes the foundation of about one half of the emotional spectrum.

We will do (I have done) anything and everything to avoid pain.

Run from it.

Numb it.

Ignore it.

Disassociate from it.

But I'm learning, God accepts all our emotions.

He created them because when He created us in His image

we became like Him

even in our feelings.

Through the fall, we've become broken.

The image of God in us fractured and scarred.

We only see through a glass darkly

who He is

and who we are.

And who were are supposed to become.

But as we look to Him,

though the eyes of our heart

beholding his beauty

we are transformed

into His likeness.

Restored--

back to original intent.

Returned to our original design.

Reformed.

Even our original emotional composition and health

can be restored in the light of His love and glory.

As we breathe in and out.

As we stand bravely facing with honesty each wave that we meet along the shore.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18