I was reading some more of Thomas a Kempis's book "The Imitation of Christ" and he has a weird chapter about sorrow and being sorrowful. He says, "Happy is the man who can throw off the weight of every care and recollect himself in holy contrition. Happy is the man who casts from him all that can strain or burden his conscience." I thought, 'Wow that would be nice.' But no sooner did I think that than about eight trillion different cares and concerns fluttered into my mind. Who does a Kempis think we are? Certainly he does not live in the real world if he can rid his mind of 'every care.' I mean how could anyone possibly turn off all of the noise in their brain? That would mean tuning out school, work, TV, your ipod, family, friends, and everything else you worry about... I mean it's impossible! Plus, would we get anything done? Half of what motivates us to do anything is our worry. We worry we will lose our job, lose our friends, lose our ipods... well you get the point. Then it's like he flip-flops on us... he says, "A good man always finds enough over which to mourn and weep; whether he thinks of himself or of his neighbor he knows that no one lives here without suffering, and the closer he examines himself the more he grieves." Talk about a buzz-kill...I'm sure Thomas was a party animal back in the day. I can just see him now, walking up to a group of guys laughing and having a good time... "Hey guys, what's so funny? Well you know what's not funny... life, and especially yours. Think about it." And then he would just walk away like he already knew his life was full of things to mourn about, but he had already talk to God about it and made his peace. Thanks Thomas...But I did something earlier on purpose... Thomas doesn't say, "Happy is the man who casts from him all that can strain or burden his conscience." He says "stain" not strain... stain. "Happy is the many who casts from him all that can stain or burden his conscience." I think Thomas knew there was no hope in a life without worry and without stains/sin. But he also knew that we were supposed to turn to God with our worry and sin. If someone lived a life without worry and sin they wouldn't need to turn to God, but no one does. We all sin, we all fall short of the glory of God, blah, blah, blah... The point is, we all are broken, worried, sinful, neurotic, depressed, happy, sad, unholy, unworthy people. But because we are so broken God restores us. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Maybe Thomas a Kempis knew there was no hope for a life without sin and worry, but he knew the solution... turn to God and avoid things that will stain your conscience and worry your head. Maybe Thomas a Kempis was a bit of a worry-wart, but I bet he talked to God about it a lot...