The subject of emotions has been a topic of great consternation for many years. Theories about emotions stretch as far as the stoics of ancient Greece. Even Plato and Aristotle discussed human emotions.

            Sophisticated theories are also a part of philosophers like Rene Descartes, Spinoza and David Hume. American psychologist William James and Danish psychologist Carl Lange “argued that emotional experience is largely due to the experience of bodily changes.” James’ classic illustration is, “we feel sad because we cry.”

            The English word emotion is derived from the French word emouvoir which means “an outward move or expression.”

            I’m well aware of uncontrolled emotions that end in violence. I was born and raised in an Ohio River town. A steel mill town, a coal mining town, an immigrant town, a depression town and a boozing town.

            Fights were common. Transplanted hillbillies from West Virginia versus Italians and Polacks in bitter arguments were normal each Saturday night. Some years ago I met a truck driver who had an interesting story. He said he had visited my hometown and it was the wildest place he had ever been in. The Brass Rail was so violent he didn’t think he would make it out alive. I knew what he meant.

            Steel mill workers and coal miners were rough and tough. Booze was their way out of the tedium of their dangerous jobs. They were always confronted with mine blasts and hot steel. Emotions were always running rampant.

             BUT emotions are God-given and a part of being human. Catalog them anyway you wish, they are a part of us. Love, anger, sorrow, jealousy, bitterness, envy, hate, like, joy, pleasure, happiness, enjoyment, longing, loneliness, sadness, pain, grief, fear.

            Unfortunately we are living in a culture that discourages any acknowledgement of emotions. Control and internalizing our feelings are signs of maturity. There are a few exceptions: victory of a sporting event, patriotic parades, occasional funeral and some church services. But as a rule of thumb, emotional outbursts are discouraged.

            We are the losers. Victor Frankl, Ph.D. and M.D., the father of humanistic psychology (with whom I studied) stated in one of my classes with him, “To acknowledge and express emotions is the measure of one’s aliveness.”

            It is easy to equate emotions with other natural benefits. Fire, water, heat, cold are good examples. Fire can cook our food and keep us warm. Water can quench our thirst and wash our clothes and bodies. Heat can warm our homes, buildings and cars. Cold can provide refrigeration and moderate the sun’s rays.

            However, there are downsides. Fire can destroy forests and homes. Water can cause floods and drownings plus creating great destruction. Heat and cold can also be traumatic.

            The same is true of emotions that are not controlled. Love can become promiscuity; anger can lead to murder. Jealousy and envy can lead to personality dysfunctions. Right on down the list.       

Jesus was emotional. It is common knowledge that He took a whip and chased the money changers from the Temple. Angry? Undoubtedly. It would be impossible to do what He did without being angry.

            Lazarus, Mary and Martha of Bethany were Jesus’ good friends. Lazarus died and Jesus was called by his sisters. When Jesus arrived and considered the death of His friend, the Bible states that “Jesus wept.” Obviously caused by great emotion.

            The Apostle Paul, founder of Christianity, fought constantly with other disciples- with emotions. Peter, James, Barnabas, John Mark, Demas among them.

            Beyond the range of Biblical characters there are examples of the founding fathers of our nation that constantly had emotional fallouts among them.

            There isn’t any doubt but that emotional responses contribute to great decisions in religion and politics. Classic examples are: Jefferson versus Washington, Alexander Hamilton versus Aaron Burr and, of course, Abraham Lincoln’s emotional outbursts about slavery and the Gettysburg Address.

            Dr. Carl Simonton, M.D. famous oncologist has written much about the “cancer prone personality.” He contends that the internalizing of emotions is a deciding factor in malignancies.

            Dr. Norman Cousins, Ph.D. in his book, Anatomy of An Illness, categorically claims that emotions influence the immune system. Dr. Lee Berk, M.D., Ph.D. of Loma Linda, makes the same claim.

            A WORD OF CONCERN. Emotions often seem to dissipate with encroaching years. Many seniors seem to develop zombielike expressions. They seemingly have very little emotional responses. This is especially true of those in retirement or convalescent communities. They often have few visitors or family visitations. I’m sure this contributes to their bland emotional responses. Why not call or visit a senior today?

Amen. Selah. So be it.

Emotions

WORDS TO THINK ABOUT:
G. W. Abersold Ph.D