"Word of Easter" from Christpower by John Shelby Spong.  Arranged in

From Erine

Personal Hell

                       (Thanks, Ryan Sirmons)

The subject of Hell is an interesting subject to consider.  Looking at Hell in truth, what is it?  Is it afterlife or present?  Our Hell is present as when life throws curve balls and you feel invisible or empty, isn't that Hell in itself?  When people can't praise you, but without words tell you all your wrongs, isn't that Hell?  The idea of Hell isn't easy to understand yet we pretend we do.  Isn't it a form of Hell waiting for payday only to see the majority of your check go into bills?  People making choices over food, bills, or medical care, can't that be Hell?  Living with an image of what, who, where, and why you exist could be Hell, as some things are just beyond our control.  The examples are infinite...I mean infinite.

I learned this week that Hell doesn't have to be scary.  I faced my private Hell of low self-esteem again.  In this discussion it felt like they had tapped into the well of low self-esteem and stirred everything up that I fight everyday.  I learned through many individuals who have faith, that I was better than my self image and to override and face it.  I'm grateful to them!!!  This battle opened old scars and created new ones. 

Whatever your personal Hell, be it physical, professional, personal, or otherwise, try to face it and know injury is possible as well as strength.  Hell counts on you running away.  It trusts that you don't have the strength to win.  Winning maybe means walking away and that's okay.  Perhaps it could be addressing the matter with thought and timing.  There are many attack plans ... again, the number is infinite. In this time of Lent, it is good to think about your personal Hell.

The greatest honor we can give Almighty God

is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love.

Julian of Norwich