A Huffington Post article, “One of the 25 Facts You Should Know (but probably don’t) About Christianity,” (1) caught me up short recently by revealing that the original seventh deadly sin was sadness – not sloth.
This got me to thinking about why sadness might have been considered a sin. How do we view sadness today and how does it affect our well-being?
To many people it is something that is OK; in some cases more than OK. Being sad is usually about the loss of, or disappointment in, something. Sadness can be easily justified and is often indulged. Then, when friends or family members show compassion, we feel better. But, I doubt, in current times, anyone goes so far as to consider it a “deadly” sin.
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If sadness was once considered a deadly sin, might it stands to reason that joy – the opposite – is a life-giving blessing. If we continuously indulge in being joyful, it must lead to living life and loving it. I don’t know about you, but I choose joy/life.
Many articles, blogs, and self-help books have been written about how important it is to be happy, and research is bringing to light every day the benefits of joy. “Laughter is the best medicine,” is a common phrase and was, for more than eight decades, the title of a much-loved joke, cartoon, and funny story section in Readers’ Digest.
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“It surprises people, but, in fact, the best cure for sadness is happiness.” says Deepak Chopra, co-founder of the Chopra Foundation and author of Spiritual Solutions: Answers to Life's Greatest Challenges.
“With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health.” says Paul E. McGhee, PhD
How do we maintain joy when we are facing hard times, a challenging situation, or holidays without family ?
Chopra continues, “don't hitch your happiness to external rewards or postpone being happy until sometime in the future. Don't expect someone else to make you happy. Don't allow your emotions to become habitual and stuck or close yourself off from new experiences. Don't … dwell on the past or live in fear of the future. Most of all: don't equate happiness with momentary pleasure.”
It needs to be more than just making ourselves laugh or putting on a “happy” face. It has to be a heartfelt desire to let go of the problem and look to God for solace, mercy and finally, joy. At a most sorrowful time, before his crucifixion, Jesus said to his disciples: “…your joy no man taketh from you.” (2) As a follower of Jesus, this passage reminds me that I need to be sure never to let any “man” or human circumstance rob me of my joy. It is a quality that comes from within – one we can control. It does not come from something we get from others or outside experiences.
Two lines from a favorite poem of mine and which we sing at church is often the first thing that comes to thought when I feel sadness or longing coming on.
The joy that none can take away
Is mine; I walk with Love today.” (3)
I have found these ideas to be practical in my life. They help me pray my way through sad situations and encourage me not to give up until I am no longer “down in the dumps.”
1) Huffington Post, Religion Brief, April 17, 2012, George Courtauld
2) John 16:22
3) Minny M.H. Ayers, Christian Science Hymnal, Page 139
Photo by AlicePopkorn uploaded from flickr.com
Kate, a resident of Carroll County, is interested in blogging about health, spirituality, science, the importance of prayer and religion. She is a Christian Science practitioner and the media, legislative and public contact for Christian Science in the state of Maryland.
