A Time To Mourn

Warning - this is not a funny post. Sorry.

I find myself having very serious thoughts today. In the Bible it states that there is a time for everything. Everything including bad/unhappy things. So when is it time to weep and mourn?

I am having an inner struggle with our culture as well as with our church culture today. Everything and everyone seem to be moving so fast. Everyone seems all smiles and happy online posts and to the natural eye it looks like everyone is without trials and without faults. We are parading around like a happy circus with everyone we see and know in attendance. This goes for everything from the grocery store, to the coffee shop, to the church. Telling someone in the church that you're having a tough time can be like inviting yourself to an amateur counseling session. So when does anyone weep and mourn?

I'm not happy today...not at all. I'm not going to smile, I don't want to...not today. So why isn't that alright? Culturally, to say you're anything but "fine" when someone asks how you're doing is both shocking and incredibly awkward. Have you tried it? The other person's body language changes completely and they look like they need to run, fast. But why? When is it time to weep and mourn?

Have you ever had a friend or family member pass away and someone (someone who knows what happened) asks you "what's wrong" when they see you crying or sad? Did you want to beat that person on the spot? When tragedy happens are we really only given a day or two for sadness before it becomes uncomfortable for others? Well that's how I feel. No one died, but I have a feeling of loss and I'm dealing with that. Maybe I'll smile tomorrow, but not today. I don't do a lot of weeping, but today is my time to mourn.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; - Ecclesiastes 3:1-4