Stabs of Joy, Hope, Longing, and Shalom

i thoroughly enjoyed this chapter. Plantinga writes about "suffering" from "stabs of joy", which CS Lewis also comments on several times in his works. i found that in my own life, i too, experience these stabs of joy. i find that i am most joyful when i take photos. i have a passion for photography and taking pictures of what i find beautiful is one of the things that gives me joy. The amazing thing is, is that the beauty that i can capture with my camera is nothing compared to what God has in store for man kind later. Its like what Lewis said, "we are far too easily pleased" with what we have on this earth. like Plantinga says, "we cannot merge with the music we love. Nor can we climb inside nature." Just the same i can not merge with the photos i take.

I find it so insane and mind blowing how we as humans long for oneness with others and even when we achive that oneness withothers through marriage and intimacy, it still doenst compare to the oneness we long to have with God. Acts of marriage and love are what we have now but we will long and hope for more, and we ge this through having our hearts rest in God's heart.

I also liked how platinga explains how hope combines imagination, faith, and desire. i just found that when reading this chapter i was really impressed by Plantigas insight on how when you long for something you need to have hope acompany that longing. then in the end what we all are really hoping and longing for is Shalom, peace. it all tied in quite nicely and i felt a small stab of joy after reading it.

the end