Sermon On Emotions

Jeffrey Kent Eugenides, an American novelist and short-story writer once remarked: "Emotions, in my experience, aren't covered by single words. I don't believe in "sadness," "joy," or "regret." Maybe the best proof that the language is patriarchal is that it oversimplifies feeling. I'd like to have at my disposal complicated hybrid emotions, Germanic train-car constructions like, say, "the happiness that attends disaster." Or: "the disappointment of sleeping with one's fantasy." I'd like to show how "intimations of mortality brought on by ageing family members" connects with "the hatred of mirrors that begins in middle age." I'd like to have a word for "the sadness inspired by failing restaurants" as well as for "the excitement of getting a room with a minibar." I've never had the right words to describe my life, and now that I've entered my story, I need them more than ever. " Ecclesiastes 3:4-6 confirms: “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.”

Emotion is defined as a strong feeling deriving from one’s circumstances, mood or relationships with others. It tends to be intuitive rather than being attained by reasoning or knowledge. Many people depend on their emotions as a means of expressing themselves openly in their general behaviour or in times of adversity or difficulty. It can include many symptoms which can appertain to happiness, sadness, grief, fear, disapproval, surprise or even anger. Ecclesiastes 8:1-5 reminds us: “Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed. I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.”

As a rule, emotions display our general demeanour to others. The difficulty occurs in our ability to control them. The more we are able to sustain this, the more strength of character we manifest. It is very easy to show temper in times when we may be disconcerted because of a situation that we do not approve of. However, if we can retain the trait to suppress our emotions when diplomacy is called for, then wisdom prevails. Proverbs 29:11 states: "A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”

There was once a boy called Simon who had an extremely close and faithful friend. His name was Thomas. They went everywhere together. They considered each other as siblings. They ate together, they slept together, they even bathed together. They had, what could be described, as a telepathic relationship. The only problem was that in reality, he was factitious. He was nothing more than a figment of the imagination. Every school day they would join the imaginary train at the bottom of the road to take them both to school, having first bought the imaginary rail ticket which just happened to be a leaf that had been picked from a hedge on their way down the road from where he lived.

They chatted all the time, usually about events that had already taken place, but they also discussed any problems he was experiencing. Perhaps more importantly, his inner feelings and emotions. The best thing about his friend was that they were both fortunate to never have a cross word. If the boy needed comfort or reassurance, his friend was always there. He could appear at any time, whether he was on his own or in a room full of people. Whenever he felt the need, his friend would materialise. Romans 12:6-8 states: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

There is a common misconception considered by some that imaginary friends are extremely beneficial to a person. They usually occur from a young age and last for a few years, but it is not unheard of for the relationship to continue even into the teens. For many years, doctors have researched the possible effects that imaginary friends can have on a child, and while in most cases they can be considered normal and non-harmful, there are obvious detrimental issues that can take place and may need to be tackled. James 1:5 confirms: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Some of the problematical concerns identified from an imaginary friendship can include a drawback in social behaviour or disturbing mood changes. If the child develops anti-social or violent tendencies as a result, then a serious problem exists which needs to be resolved. Professional medical help should then be sought to eradicate it.