I will get to the joy end of the continuum in time, but let me stay with the lament part of our continuum for awhile.
Look at Psalm 22. This psalm has been made familiar because Jesus prayed it from the cross. As was noted yesterday with Psalm 13, so here note that this psalm moves from lament to praise. The lament here is even more personal and specifically despairing. If you needed evidence that it is appropriate to pour out the despairing part of your soul to God, then remember that Jesus both felt that despair and shared it with God.
Also recognize another very important part of our soul’s journey as expressed in this psalm. Note how the psalm moves not only from despair to praise but also from lonliness to community. Pain, whether of the body or the soul, tends to be very isolating. When people complain or cry out, they are yearning for someone who will recognize that they are in pain. Sin, itself, is an act or attitude that disrupts relationships, either with God or neighbor. Now, note in this psalm, when one confesses one’s lonliness and isolation to God, there is movement towards community. Not only is there a God who listens, but the response is to share our praise of life in community. Part of God’s response to our pain is to move us towards community. Genesis was right, “It is not good for humans to be alone.
It is natural for us to experience pain and isolation in living, but when we have owned that isolating experience, our healing comes in moving towards community. It is in community that we can experience the fullness of joy.
In a couple of days I will talk about the other end of this continuum and the place of humor in our lives. It is really difficult to tell a joke to no one. For a joke to be complete, someone needs to respond with laughter.
