Don't Be Sad

All around me people are so... broken. They hurt so much that I hurt too. I don't understand really. People who are gorgeous, intelligent, funny, charismatic.

It's like they invent things to hate about themselves.

They put themselves on this skyscraper for the world to see and marvel at, but never touch. And the one time they're brave enough to allow someone to be up close, they get hurt and climb up even high away from onlookers.

I try and tell them, "No! You're beautiful! You're hilarious! You're so fun to be around! You're amazing and the Lord loves you so much!" but it never seems to do the trick.

It's upsetting.

Often I feel as though I am sitting in a chair in a windowless room with no doors. Calm. Happy. But surrounded by people who are bruised or dramatic or lonely or angry or bitter or cold. I try to get up from my chair to go to them but I'm tied down. I scream at them "Please! Listen! Stop telling yourselves these lies!" But they're so caught up in the pain that they almost ignore the easily accessible joy.

They're too afraid to take a step away from their safe place to reach for happiness.

My actions and words always seem to hardly scrape the surface but I hope my prayers dig deep.