The World as it Once Was

Imagine a world that lacks so much of what our world has. This world doesn't know what pain is. Disease isn't even a known word. Neither children nor adults starve to death or even go hungry. There is no pollution. No one is physically or mentally disabled. There is no fear. There is no evil. There is no shame. There are no lies. There is no war. People in this world don't get hurt or hurt each other. They don't verbally, physically, sexually, spiritually, or emotionally abuse each other. Death is a concept to be discussed and warned against, but as a reality it does not exist.

Imagine a world that has in surpassing amounts what our world has in miniscule portions. Love primarily. People love one another deeply in thought, words, and action. Their relationships are pure, innocent, intimate, vulnerable, teeming with life. Joy fills every heart. People share everything they have and every part of their lives with each other. People sense and understand that they are creatures of infinite worth, and they treat others in light of that reality. People have work to do, but it is not exhausting, stifling, draining, stressful, or necessary for survival. The work they've been given is a part of the joyful, lively, and whole pattern of life.

This world is not absolutely perfect, but it is absolutely good. It sure would be wonderful to live in a world like that. Sure sucks that we don't. Surely the infinite God could have come up with better than this - even better than the world we can imagine. It's kind of frustrating at times that the world we live in isn't like that. Frustrating is probably too light a term. Sometimes, it outright pisses us off that God created a world that is full of so many horrible, terrifying, distressing, heart-breaking events and realities; a world that is missing so much good. The problem with our anger is that it's not rightly placed.