Article October 3, 1994 Issue

If the light goes out of our lives

Susan Jackson Cobb

Sometimes it seems that the light goes out of our lives— and we can even mark the moment it ceased. Perhaps a job we had built our whole experience around ended. Or someone dear passed on. Or maybe the warmth we felt for something or someone has gradually been replaced with feelings of disappointment, disillusionment, or cynicism. Somehow, despite our efforts, the flame has gone out or has dwindled to a mere flicker.

Yet, who doesn't yearn for the feeling of being on the mountaintop, full of joy, hope, and clear purpose? Is it possible to have it? Yes, it is. How? Through discovering God's ideal.

Most of us hold some concept of what the "perfect" spouse or child should be, what role our parents should fill, how our city or country should be run, the best way we can do our job or fill our days, the ideal way a friend should act. Often our evaluation of these is based on how others conduct themselves, and when they leave, forsake us, or fail to live up to our expectations, we can feel disillusioned. The thought may come at such times that perhaps we're expecting too much, that maybe we should lower our ideals and learn to be satisfied with the way things are.

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