Feelings

As seen in the HEARTbeat and the Village voice

“Feelings”

            “Feelings, nothing more than feelings, trying to forget my feelings of love. Teardrops, rolling down on my face, trying to forget my feelings of love.”  These are the first few lines of a love song sung in 1974 by Morris Albert (and now you’ll have the song stuck in your head all day long!).  He sings of love for a woman, a woman who is no longer around.  He expresses this love as one he can never forget, never get rid of, and one so powerful he will feel it his entire life.

            Feelings are just another word for emotions.  They are said to be centered in the heart with phrases such as, “My heart is overjoyed” or, “My heart is so sad.”  The scientific world would beg to differ, as they say emotions originate in our brain, in our psyche.  They would say that emotions are derived from neuro-chemical changes in our brain which cause a physiological response to certain stimuli.  If that is true, why then is Mr. Spock of Star Trek fame so smart (a brain) yet does not show emotions?  Of course, a real “Trekie” would say his emotions are completely repressed and controlled.

            The scientific community may be correct in their assessment of the origin of human emotions, but I would propose emotions also originate in our spirits.  Follow me in my line of thought (emotions added).

            Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness….”  After each day, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”  John 4:24 records Jesus telling the Samaritan woman at the well, “God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in the Spirit, and in truth.”  Finally in the Gospel of Matthew 17:5 on top of the mountain when Jesus was transfigured it is recorded, “He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’”

            We are made in the image of God, who is Spirit, therefore we have a like spirit in us.  After each day of creation, God looked upon His handiwork and it was good, or He was happy with it.  As Jesus told the woman, we must worship God through His Spirit in us.  When God told Peter, James, and John He was pleased with Jesus, He felt joy and love.  If God can feel all these emotions and more, and we are made in His image, with a spirit which is “quickened” or brought to life when we give our life to Christ, then the emotions God feels are the same ones we feel in our spirits!!

            “Nothing more then feelings” as the song says would not apply.  I would say feelings aren’t nothing, but are everything!  When you feel happiness, sadness, or joy, understand these are emotions God gave to us.  Today “feel” the love God has for you, and feel heavenly joy because of it!