"It Goes On"

There was once a great, American poet by the name of Robert Frost who spoke to the hearts and souls of western civilization. Though he has long since passed from this Earth, his words echo through the years and we are affected still. It is said that he once stated that he found that Life could be summed up into three simple words: "It goes on."

These words have become the catchphrase of my life, as well as for a few of my closest friends. Hardship, struggle, and purging are the essence of what it means to be alive, 20-something, and/or Christian. This is way of life in a world full of sin and darkness. It is the graces of God that keep up going and prevent us from breaking under the pressure of sin's consequences. By all reason, the world should have collapsed on itself ages ago, but the work of the Spirit has kept everything at bay. 

In the midst of the deeply rooted pain in my soul and the Spirit's surging of my heart, which is not so much more pleasant, I have begun to gain the faintest understanding of Christ's work of redemption in us. I have seen such growth in myself, and yet I see that I have even farther to go that I once thought. I am a sinner. I am tainted by the falsity and broken desires that compel me to act and think in ways that are contrary to the wholeness that God designed in humanity at the genesis of time. The knowledge of how much weight I bear verses  that reality that Christ bears much more of my baggage for me is a humbling thing. Christ is with me, always. Life goes on. It's hard to think that there is more ahead; that one must not submit themselves to despair but instead push forward with all their might to "live". The refusing to cave under the already tremendous pressure is a difficult task and one that is to often left unaccomplished. 

There is a time for peace and a time for war. I'm learning to trust Christ and to know that I can't wait around for things to just be better. Life doesn't wait for anyone...it goes on. Bad things are inevitable and suffereing will occur, but it's ok because life goes on...

Grace and Peace,

Stephen