Recently, there just seems to be an outpouring of hurt among the folks I know. Albeit, financial, physical, medical, turmoil, being hurt by family or friends, lies, manipulations, folks trying to "advance karma" - just a myriad of things which have hurt me or my friends.

Many have cried, including myself - from the hurt, the uncalled for persecution, the threats, the evil that others plan against you, the breaking up of families, friendships which have gone south, loss of job(s), or lack of job(s) - and many of us have curled up in a dark place to just cry.

I've heard crying does one good. It releases the tension and the anxiety. I also am told that tears are the only cure for weeping. You cannot weep inside and maintain a positive to one's self. We have to release the hurt - and tears help. I think recently my friends and I have cried enough to fill a river and more. If we combined all our tears, we could have helped the drought situation in Texas - whether we've cried for ourselves, friends, family or other.

"Jesus wept." That's the shortest scripture in the Bible. Jesus wept when his friend died and he weeps with us. (John 11:33)

In the days of King Solomon there were many ups and downs. Ecclesiastes, King Solomon wrote, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven . . . a t ime to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. (3:1-4)

I've looked back at some of my writings - I can tell when I am down and when I am up.

I've come to realize that we do ourselves a great injustice or disservice when we portray Christian life as peaceful and happy all the time. The Bible shows the believers' life as having ups and downs. Just because we are a child of God we all must have a time of joy or sadness, and each season will lead us to seek the Lord and trust Him more.