THE COLORS OF SMILES

Ever feel a smile? Sense the energy behind it. A cloud of rage ready to rain? A storm of sadness waiting to cause havoc to one's moods.

I still recall the times of force smiles in pews. People pretending to enjoy themselves who knew all the right words, but didn't feel them.

Perhaps that is the really unfortunate part. When mask have to be warn for fear the truth will hurt.

I do believe joy is part of the life of faith, but it doesn't have to take a contrived form. One that is artificially created.

I also think it should be one that is natural. Now that to me means if a person isn't prone to all smiles all the time then why expect them to be that way in other situations?

Joy doesn't always appear on the face. A calm expression can be joy as well as a beaming smile.

But that requires honestly. Which God truly does value. In the scriptures we are told by the Lord how true worshippers of God must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Not hard to find the spiritual part. All it takes is to go about anywhere there is fellowship and the spirit will be obvious.

Well a spirit will be obvious. Maybe not God's spirit, but a reasonable facsimile. Even though it might not be the real presence of the Lord.

But still we do have so many ways we love to express that aspect of worship. To use all the right words.

However, that doesn't quite cover the truth part. That is a little harder to fake. It requires the need for words.

And that always in one way or another results in some translation of the information. Any aspects of one's relationship with the Lord.

All of which we can filter through any words we want, but doesn't mean they are God's words. Just the ones we decide are correct.

That is such an important part. They always come out in one way or another as twisted in due season.

Pity it becomes the banner of some arenas of spirituality. A need for play acting that never results in the real truth being share.

That is the part that always touches the most.