Pray for them and us.

[bkilbour]

There are people who wear a mask in every day life. Things look cool, smiles and handshakes, all that jazz - but something's always eating them up inside. Every night, they fall apart, only to scoop up the pieces and put on the same facade the next day.

There are people who haven't stopped believing in God, but turn to the flesh as solace for their pain, rather than patiently waiting for His deliverance. They don't want to return to purity or piety, because they fear guilt and judgement almost as much as they fear life without the crutch of the flesh.

There are people who have been stabbed in the back so many times, hurt by so many people. They've got a chip on the shoulder; their anger pleas that they might be able to see justice, or at least set the records straight. But since they have no one that will listen, and the ones who hurt them never seem to change, it drives them nuts. They'll end up having imaginary arguments just to feed that vulture on their back, the bitterness chewing their skull.

You know those "happy people" you see all around you? Why the heck are they so happy when you're feeling like garbage? It looks all the time like I'm miserable, those who have hurt me are blessed, and everyone else is completely fine not caring at all. But I know this isn't true, and nor will it ever be. When someone tells you that they are "fine," they are probably a liar.

I haven't turned to the flesh, by the grace of God, but I know that there are people who have, and their fears are obvious. I don't wear a mask, but I know what it's like to have something gnaw at me. And I don't have a chip on my shoulder, but my unresolved conflicts are the most frustrating things that have ever happened in my life.

We're not invisible to God. We shouldn't be invisible to each other. Please pray for them and us.

[Hiryu]

Although it may take courage, we should tell other people our problems. It can take a load of stress off of you. There are people who want to help people who are hurting, but if you tell them you're fine, they can't help you.

You fear the guilt and judgement? We are all sinners and no one is perfect. You've already been judged. The guilt is unpleasant, but we can't let that stop us. God forgives, and remembers no more.

We must always love our brother and sisters, and be attentive of them. Love is a necessity of the human race.

Even if we are unaware, God is always with us. Count your blessings.

[ABlipinTime]

hey man, I'm praying for you and your friends. Put it all in God's hands. See this not as a horrible situation (which it is, but that's beside the point), but see it as an OPPORTUNITY to entrust to God your troubles and the troubles of your friends.

He is with us and taking care of us.
Peace be with you, brother!

[Mr. SmartyPants]

“Do you not know that there comes a midnight hour when every one has to throw off his mask? Do you believe that life will always let itself be mocked? Do you think you can slip away a little before midnight in order to avoid this? Or are you not terrified by it? I have seen men in real life who so long deceived others that at last their true nature could not reveal itself;... In every man there is something which to a certain degree prevents him from becoming perfectly transparent to himself; and this may be the case in so high a degree, he may be so inexplicably woven into relationships of life which extend far beyond himself that he almost cannot reveal himself. But he who cannot reveal himself cannot love, and he who cannot love is the most unhappy man of all.”
-Søren Kierkegaard

"Do not depend on the hope of results. You may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself. You gradually struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. In the end, it is the reality of personal relationship that saves everything."
-Thomas Merton

Love is better than anything. And in fact, being backstabbed only adds to the opportunity to love others. It isn't the outcome of loving that really matters, although one must always hope for that outcome. But never rely on it. What matter is the act of love in itself despite all repercussions which may follow, whether it's appreciation or crucifixion.

Suffering is beautiful. Life is messy and beautiful; and I would not have it any other way.

So despite everything, keep loving.

[TGJesusfreak]

I was one such person. I know how hard it is. I'll most definatly be praying for them (and us).