The Essentialness of Tears

Nobody likes to be sad...

I remember bringing an article to class - to read and discuss with my students - about the idea of "mood medicine."

Soon - the article indicated - sadness will be a thing of the past. Soon we will be popping pills to feel good, whatever our problem. Sad? Take a happy pill. Feel lonely or stressed (or any number of different uncomfortable feelings)? The pharmacy will soon have pills to cure that, too!

They probably already have them, Terry commented, when I told him about the article.

So I find it interesting to read a Biblical take on the so-called "problem" of tears (though I must admit, the context seems to be tears from hard - possibly frustrating - work).

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

Could it be that tears are part of the natural cycle of life? That struggling to keep going through hard times (rather than popping "mood medicine") will lead one to seasons filled with "songs of joy"... and success?

That thought has kept me going through hard times - especially times of frustration in my work.

And while on the topic of joy, a poem by Carl Sandburg comes to mind. This one struck a chord when I was in high school:

Snatch of Sliphorn Jazz

Are you happy? It's the only
way to be, kid.
Yes, be happy, it's a good nice
way to be.
But not happy-happy, kid, don't
be too doubled-up doggone happy.
It's the doubled-up doggone happy-
happy people . . . bust hard . . . they
do bust hard . . . when they bust.
Be happy, kid, go to it, but not too
doggone happy.