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July 08, 2004
The Subject of the Day
We were discussing something at church the other night...and it too has to do with the subject of the day: cyring.
Now, sometimes in life there is just a lot going on...work, school, relationships, etc....and you don't really think things are getting to you, you just keep going. Until, the fateful moment when something BIG happens...that unexpected thing, the e-mail from a freind, an argument with someone you love, a moment of teasing gone bad...and you start crying.
I'm not talking about normal crying here...I'm talking about the big CRY. The loud, snotty, sobbing cry...the one that people would be scared to see. And you think...the world is over, I might as well crawl into a hole and die, because I can't take anymore of this...I can't do anything about it.
Somewhere along the way, logic creeps in and you realize that you are bone-tired and weary, that your emotions are irrational and out of control and you need one thing: sleep. But then, it gets worse, and worse, until somehow you fall asleep only to wake up in the morning and think, "Huh, I'm not sure what THAT was all about.".
Now, I'm not saying the cry is all over nothing. I am saying that the reaction spins way out of control, and it's a scary place to be, one where no one understands you and you barely understand yourself. And there is nothing that you can seemingly do to regain control of it all. But, in the morning whatever it was that started it all is still there, and it's more managable.
Sometimes I think crying is the insane sort of release that gets rid of all the junk that's been going on inside and frees you up to confronting the situation at hand. Some of that emotion just has to go away, so you work it to death... and I'm not sure that it doesn't just come out with all the snot and tears... and then you are free to move on.
I'm not saying this makes sense... 'cause I don't even understand it. But, I do no one thing: even though it sucks, somehow it all seems to get better after the cry is done and over with, and the problem can then be tackled... or amends made.
Posted by Angelina at July 8, 2004 07:45 PM
Comments
I believe I've read that the shedding of tears, from a chemical point of view, actually removes toxins from the body.
Just a thought to share: Hannah had a BIG CRY in I Samuel 1, so much so that Eli thought she was drunk. Just imagine, she was probably rocking back and forth, stumbling around, crying in her beer, so to speak. Once he realized what was going on, even though he had NO IDEA what her problem was, he did two things: He let her know that God was for her and that he was for her. Contrast that to her husband, Elkanah, who tried to solve her problem with unassailable logic but completely failed.
I think that's the basic recipe for encouraging others. So often we want to solve people's problems or coach them in how to deal with the stress of their situation, when all they need is encouragement, hope and assurance. Just let people know you're for them and let them know that you know for a fact that God is for them.
So don't get down on yourself for your emotional expressions and don't get down on others for theirs. And stop trying to solve everybody's problems (that comment is particularly aimed at guys). Only God can solve our problems anyway.
Posted by: Different Dan at July 9, 2004 12:28 AM
NOte: This is not a post in RESPONSE to crying in any way... it is a post ABOUT crying.
Posted by: Angie at July 9, 2004 10:31 AM
Sorry?
Posted by: Different Dan at July 9, 2004 10:43 AM
So where you arying when you posted? or happy? :)
Just seen several crying posts lately and wondering what I am missing...
Posted by: paul at July 10, 2004 04:45 PM
i was happy, just thinking about the subject, and was going to post a coment on someone else's, but then realized it would be too long, and I have a blog, so I should just blog instead.
Posted by: Angie at July 10, 2004 08:04 PM
oh... :)
Posted by: paul at July 11, 2004 11:09 PM