Lebensfreude

Lebensfreunde.
It means "joy of living", in German.
I like this expression.
I was reminded lately that God has made me alive (Colossians). I do not always live as though this is true because I forget that I am alive. In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul speaks a lot about joy. He writes this letter while being locked up in prison... and he oozes with joy. He talks about being content in all circumstances. He talks as if his life on earth does not matter. Yet he is full of life. Not the kind of life a human aquires when they start recieving nutrients from their mother in the womb, but the kind of life a human recieves when they meet Jesus Christ and he dramatically changes something deep in their being. This is the kind of life that caused the joy oozing sensation in Paul.
I am guilty of getting caught up focusing on my circumstances, (which are fairly comfortable, I must add,) and not being content. I want to go live in the woods. Or in the Studio in England (read "A Severe Mercy"). Or in a borsch eating village across the ocean. In my longing for different circumstances or things that I think would make my life better, I forget that my relationship with Christ is where I find genuine life. A life that is vibrant and real wether I am in the woods or trekking into a city everyday to University. I am basically looking for an fulfilling, exciting life in the wrong place.
I believe that we are placed where we are for a reason. The people we come into contact with everyday are there for a reason too. These factors fit into an adventure, (one that no one on earth could ever duplicate,) producing a genuine joy for those who are brave enoungh enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, and desire to know Him better.
Lebensfreunde is the title of my blog because it represents the desire of my heart. I want to ooz with the joy of real living and cling to the only One who will ever allow me to experience a true, fulfilling joy of living.