Unified in Misery

What do you believe in? Who do you trust? What is the reality you live in? The answers to these questions hold on the main keys to discovering one’s personal identity. But even these questions, that play such a great role in our lives and self-identification, are affected by the values we hold to and those are affected by our unique experiences. But there an experience that unites us all together, there is something that each person, no matter who they are, no matter where they are, feels. You might have guessed what it is, but if you didn’t then it is loneliness, rejection and misery. Every one of us experiences those unpleasant emotions, and although this is uncomforting to hear, there is no way of escaping them. They are a consequence of our lives on this imperfect planet and more importantly, our sins.

            Every character in the book had a time when they felt forsaken and refused to be accepted by either the society as a whole or by certain individuals specifically, just like everyone does in real life. The questions that come up next are: “What does this experience mean?”, “What do we do with this experience?” Feeling lonely and miserable does not identify you as unacceptable, useless or worthless, but it rather signifies that you are normal and possess a reaction to neglect, depravity, intolerance, as well as to being excluded, over looked or treated unjustifiably, that is typical to everyone. What needs to be realized in this process is that although bad things happen to us, it is not always a result of our mistakes, but rather the result of the imperfect world we live in. This means that we should look to someone who is above this world and someone who has “overcome the world” (John 16:33) and that is Jesus Christ. If we do not choose to do this then as Grantaire said, “There is nothing for us to believe in. Drink is the only reality”.

As we can see, the decision to look to Christ comes only if we have a firm grasp and a clear recognition of our value and worth, for it is said we are “God's chosen ones, holy and beloved”( Colossians 3:12-14), “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7), ““I will never leave you nor forsake you”( Hebrews 13:5). 

If God loves, values and tells you about it, how can you let anyone or anything convince you otherwise?