“There is not a heart but he has moments of longing, yearning for something better, nobler, holier than he now knows” (Henry Ward Beecher).
We all have desires, but not all of us accept or respect them. We probably don’t think about it very often, and even when we do, we may not be able to express our feelings in words, but every one of us has a “strong, persistent craving or desire” (American Heritage Dictionary) to more perfect circumstances than those that currently surround us. And we don’t just wish for better conditions; I believe we also long for a more perfect character. Whether we look outside or within ourselves, much remains incomplete in what we see. And so we yearn to improve, longing for what we have seen so far only in our dreams and aspirations. Then again, wouldn’t it be wise Accept our longings and even Respect Them?
Many of the things that motivate us to do worthy work arise from our desires. For example, our intellectual curiosity, our desire to understand the nature of what is real, is also a form of longing. Plato wrote, “Philosophy is the longing for heavenly knowledge.”
In Antony and cleopatra, Shakespeare said of Cleopatra, “I have immortal desires.” The notion of “immortal longing” is one that has occurred to many of the wisest people who have ever lived. In fact, it seems reasonable that our longings are indicative of our true nature, a suggestion that we are connected to a larger, more enduring reality than we experience in space-time with our physical senses. The author of the book Ecclesiastes affirms that we are created by a God who has “put eternity in (our) hearts.”
If we had no desires, we would be a poor people. We would be flatter, duller, and less able to make significant contributions. After all, a large part of what we can offer others is our aspiration, our desire to move forward. Therefore our desires should not be regretted or avoided. Although they can sometimes be so touchy as to be painful, they are usually pulling us in the direction we need to go. There is a certain beauty in our longings, and good things often come from allowing ourselves to feel and even grow our longings.
“I long to be filled with desire; I thirst still more to be made thirsty” (A.W. Tozer).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
