Joy and Sorrow

In my heart, where I find that bit of what I understand as God in me, my divinity, I find both joy and sorrow. I wonder if that’s what God is. I wonder if joy and sorrow always go together.

My mother used to say she didn’t believe there could be a God because, if there was, he wouldn’t let people suffer and there would be no death; a bit simplistic and naïve. But life isn’t simple – it’s complex. Maybe God doesn’t let us suffer – we do.

In my book, The Joy of Growing Up, I talk about learning to accept disappointments as part of the process of growing up. Maybe, as we move out of childhood fantasy, where everything is idealised and perfect, into accepting reality and into adulthood, we also learn to accept sorrow. We gain and we lose. That’s the cycle of life.

What’s important is not to let sorrow overwhelm joy. As you accept it, you also let it go. If you try to deny it, it will stay with you.