The Joy of Life
When we finally engage in Ecumenical Fraternity, we find God. I do not refer to the anthropomorphic god, created in the image and likeness of the fallible human being. Then, we will no longer be tormented by the anxiety of denying or proving His existence. He is simply taken in completely by our Spirits, like the air, which still allows us to live and survive with dignity. The joy of Life is what we offer in return.
Here is a fact: Some people kill or destroy themselves on glorious sunny days. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, beauty is everywhere—and yet the person does not notice it. And it is all right there, inviting them to experience Goodness and live happily.
“Christus,” a work by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844). The original statue (photo) is located in the Cathedral of Copenhagen. I keep a small replica of this beautiful piece on my desk in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Jesus warns in His Gospel according to Matthew 6:23: “But if your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Everything will seem gloomy if the Soul remains in darkness. The Heavenly Father offers you all the treasures of His life, and yet you continue to complain—without even proposing new ethical paths? The more one laments, the less productive one becomes. Have you noticed how those who complain excessively usually do little or nothing? I am not referring to rightful demands—those must indeed be made.
Let me repeat: the joy of Life is that which we give to it. Therefore, if life is highly challenging, that does not mean it cannot become rich in accomplishments and full of happiness. It must be lived with greatness, for there is always an opportunity to experience Goodness. And when we feel God—who is Love raised to the nth degree—Life takes on the rhythm and dimension of Eternity. That is, Space-Time, the integration into the Lord’s Day, as we read in the Apocalypse 1:10: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day . . .”
And why is our integration into the Lord’s Day necessary? Precisely because it symbolizes the spiritual-psychic state in harmony with God’s Space-Time. Then we ourselves become Divine Space-Time—that is, Prophecy itself, which is God within us, “the testimony of Jesus,” as written in the last book of the Holy Bible, Apocalypse 19:10: “The testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of Prophecy.”
Integrated into this Most Sacred Content, we become the true conductors of our destinies—builders, today, of brighter days to come.
Respecting One’s Own Existence
We must learn to measure the intensity of life by how much a person can spiritually enjoy it. That is why suicide is one of the worst crimes an individual can commit against themselves. Hence the need to respect life. A reflection of mine from How to Overcome Suffering (1990): Let us honor the extraordinary gift that God has given us―Life―and He will always come to help us through the most unimaginable and efficient ways. It is crucial that we humbly understand His messages and that we apply them with Goodwill and the efficacy He expects from us. The permanent harmony with the Divine Power can only prepare our Spirit so that it can survive pain, even if in full conflagration of human disturbances.
How Good It Is to Sow Goodness
Miguel Rizzo Júnior
In the 1980s, while speaking on the Super Good Will Radio Network, I read the following passage from the book Lendas e Fatos [Legends and Facts], by Presbyterian pastor Miguel Rizzo Jr.:
Thorvaldsen
“Thorvaldsen, the renowned Danish sculptor, lived in Italy for some time. In 1838, when he returned to his homeland at the king’s invitation, he brought with him a collection of statues that would make him immortal.
“A servant, while unpacking the crates that held the statues, scattered the straw used to protect them in a courtyard. The following summer, flowers began to appear in Copenhagen—flowers that existed only in the gardens of Rome. They had sprouted from seeds hidden in the straw that had been used to pack the statues.
“Thus, the famous sculptor beautified his homeland not only with the exquisite works of sculpture he had masterfully created, but also with a new element that had, by accident, accompanied him on the journey.
“The effects of true dedication are almost always twofold: Some can be foreseen by those who devote themselves to any good work; others bloom on the margins of those primary results.
“What we admire in the works of great individuals is not only what they objectively represent, but also the example and encouragement they offer for the improvement of future generations throughout History.”
The message in this story is a powerful one. Now, let us bring it into our everyday lives. We will then see just how good it is to sow Goodness! The results always blossom and strengthen hearts.
The comments do not represent the views of this site and are the sole responsibility of their authors. It denied the inclusion of inappropriate materials that violate the moral, good customs, and/or the rights of others. Learn more at Frequently asked questions.