Blunt about tshirts...

Yesterday I made it clear that I was feeling sadness for others and what life is dealing them at this time. I spent a long time thinking and praying for some of the people in the middle of these real-life tough situations. Maybe because I've been there it's created a greater spot in my heart for empathy, but regardless, I have more thoughts on the subject.

These thoughts first came from some t-shirts I've seen people wearing around town. I am not knocking these shirts if you own one and wear it. I even think some of the cartoons are fitting at times, but I am the ultimate 'realist' in life. And remember too, that I like to make my own t-shirts, and have posted samples of a couple that I may get around to making one of these days.

Well, if I were to make a shirt in the next few days, it would probably read something like this:

Life isn't always good.
{However, you can find joy and happiness in spite of that fact.}

I think sometimes we (especially Americans) buy into the idea that life should be good all the time. As if we are owed a happy life- for one reason or another. A lot of people base their whole definition of success on this idea- that if we work harder, or meet the right people, or buy the latest stuff, or find the right religion, or even be a certain look and weight, then we will be happy and fulfilled. Or at least appear successful to others...and some of us think that what others believe to be true about us is what it's all about.
I don't want to knock you down if life is all rosy in your corner of the world, but I do think sometimes we all need a reality check.
It seems to me that if more people were open and honest about what's really going on in their life, that we could all be better people because of that honesty. For example, what if, instead of lying and cheating behind her husband's back, the wife sat down and had a heart to heart with her husband and asked for him to stand by her as they fix the mess of their marriage. Don't you think more people would go to counseling and seek to resolve the problems if they were brought up and asked for forgiveness for- rather than being found out and feeling betrayed?
Or, if instead of making excuses for someone's depression, what if the family members or close friend of the hurting individual did all they could to get that person the treatment they so needed? Wouldn't it save some of us a lot of grief and heartache in the end?
As one who has grown up in different Bible-based churches, I've seen it happen to great extent within the church. I think it has given people on the "outside" false ideas about what faith really is- especially as it relates to pain and hurt in this life.
I may not be using the best theology, but I believe in honesty- especially in regards to my faith. I know that life isn't always good, or fair or easy. I believe it's okay to come right out and say that- even though I have a strong faith in God. I've learned that faith doesn't guarantee you freedom from pain or hard circumstances in life. Faith doesn't give you easy answers to all life's toughest questions. It doesn't make you automatically happy about everything that happens to you.
But, it does offer peace and comfort and hope and even joy- that sometimes can't be explained. So, here I am again, talking about tshirts and faith and what it means in my life. And once again, I am reminded that it's not about whether or not life is good to us from day to day, but whether or not I have the assurance that no matter what comes my way, it will be okay.
That last sentence was my 'light-bulb' moment for today, and could very well be the text of the next t-shirt that I design. Yep. It would read, "I know that no matter what comes my way, that everything will be okay". That's a t-shirt I could live in!