By Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu
I recently watched a film that explored different emotions. It reminded me that there are passages in the Bible that talk about emotions, some of which describe God’s emotions. Did God possess or display those emotions? We don’t really know. People seemed to sense a feeling only when certain things happened. For example, when one feels panic, one can imagine what kind of emotion the other party feels in relation to the panic. It may well be anger.
Hence, the emotions attributed to God in the Bible could stem from people projecting their own emotions onto him. Emotions can appear to be unstable, and we often use the term “emotional” to describe certain individuals.
Among some people in ancient times, there were those who regarded God as one with unstable emotions because they did not know when they might offend him, so most people feared God.
Human beings are not always fond of emotions because they can be disturbing based on our experiences. This can lead us to misunderstand the true nature of emotions. However, it is important to consider that emotions are a gift from God to humanity, so they must hold their own significance and are not inherently confusing.
All of God’s creations are disciplined because the word “creation” itself means discipline. So, why do we think that emotions are not regulated? It is because we misunderstand emotions, don’t like them, and don’t really know our own. If we accept that human beings are emotional, if we can accept our various emotions, and if we can understand them properly, we will find that emotions are very regular.
Let us learn to be friends with our emotions. Notice them, accompany them, and embrace them. We will find that the mechanism of our emotions is stable, not confusing, and very clear. The more you accept it, the clearer you can distinguish between them. You will realise that emotions are not independent; they are interrelated. One emotion is related to another, and one emotion hides behind another. When one is willing to look at it and pay attention to it, it will slowly introduce itself to you. In this way, you develop a deeper, richer, and more beautiful self.
God has given us the grace to spend a little more time getting to know the emotional part of ourselves, especially if we are willing to improve and grow in our spiritual life. What do we need to help ourselves improve? To enhance our relationship with Jesus and the Father. We all need to schedule more time to go into our inner being, to look at what we’re experiencing outside, and at the same time, we need to focus more on what’s going on inside.
How do I get back to that emotional core within myself? Back to the basics: an emotional connection with God, who is love, the source of all emotions.
