Wikipedia (the encyclopedia of Morons) defines a society as "a group of humans or other organisms of a single species that is delineated by the bounds of cultural identity, social solidarity, functional interdependence, or eusociality. Human societies are characterized by patterns of relationships between individuals that share a distinctive culture or institutions. Like other groups, a society allows its individual members to achieve individual needs or wishes that they could not fulfill separately by themselves, without the existence of the social group.
Society, however, may be unique in that it is ontologically independent of, and utterly irreducible to, the qualities of its constituent individuals. As a reality sui generis, or "of its own kind", it is emergently composed of social facts that often hinder rather than help the pursuits of the subjects that form its physical and psychological underpinnings."
The last sentence sums up my lifelong feeling toward "societies." I feel the same about group counseling. A group of people feeding off of each others miserableness. Commiseration, if you please, which often leads to worsening situations.
BUT WAIT...
Have you ever read Hebrews 10? Particularly verses 23-25? Here's what the Message says:
"Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching."
Guess what that makes believers...? that's right... a SOCIETY! I'm realizing that's been my issue the whole time. Societies without Christ are just a group of hurting people with no hope.
This is the part where I chastise organized religion for not "encouraging love and helping out" hurting people, whether believers or not. For making them seek support in hopeless places. I consider myself fortunate to belong to a church that makes every attempt to do this...
But then I also say a HUGE thank you to those, like Darla, who are infusing Christ into these places that DO work to ease the pain of those suffering.
As you can see, last night effected me more than I thought it would. It has now been almost 10 months since mom died... of cancer. 10 months since I was inundated with the cancer lifestyle. The terminology. The pale skinned, hairless people with sunken eyes... Those that truly know suffering.
I thank the Lord often that mom really didn't suffer. I give testimony on her behalf to everyone I possibly can of how the fervent prayers of the saints held mom in God's attention and He mercifully protected her from MANY of the horrors of cancer. No years of suffering. No vomiting. No hospitalization. Ever. It almost makes me feel guilty when I see those that are so violently afflicted...
Thank you Jesus. For your faithfulness to us. For the care You provide those that love You. For Weeze.
For helping us find a cure...
