We would be foolish

highs cantrigger afantastic feelingof dancinghand-in-handwith euphoria?But it isvery sadwhen life’slows causea spiral intoan emotionalmeltdown.

worn down, and embittered.Instead, theysuffered,by the power of himwho supported them.The disciples bore thesuffering laid on themonly by the power of himwho bore all sufferingon the cross.As bearers of suffering,they stand in communionwith the Crucified.They stand as strangersin the power of himwho was so aliento the world thatit crucified him.

spiritually and materially?How can we thank Godfor sustaining us,hearing us, calling us,forgiving us, loving us?How can we thank Himfor the gift of creationand salvation, for the graceof beauty, and love?Nothing we could dowould ever be enough.

by acts of humilityand respond withforgiveness toworks of penance.Lend your mercifulear to our prayersand in your kindnesspour out the graceof yourblessingson your servants.Help us to followthe path of penance,meditating on thesufferings of Christon the blessed cross.(Graphic:Ragamuffingospelfan’s Blog – WordPress.comThe Suffering Servant Part I)

our cultures andanchored in ourpast experiences.So, what we seeas positive emotionscan vary within cultures.And, just to addto the complexities,emotional expressionis mostly basedon brain mapping,with juncturesand signs thatlink to experiencesor feelings, memories,other people’sreactions to us.(Ref. to Immordino-Yang, Yang &Damasio,2016)

for-granted effectAnother reasonfor this so calledstrengths blindnesscan be ascribedto today’s culture.It is argued thatpeople’s awarenessof strengths isbiased by significantothers, such asteachers, family,and friends,who mainly focus ona person’s weaknessesrather than on thepromotion of hisor her strengths.