It is part of life that every human being will experience sorrow, even some of those who die young. It is almost a necessity. Certain is it that it helps to shape our character, for we have seen the kind of people who grow up without it. We need sorrow, even if it is only through vicarious participation in the cross of Christ.
An appreciation of the sorrows of Jesus brings a certain maturation to the human spirit, a certain toughness to our tenderness and immaturity. Life ages with our experiences, and sorrows are part of that ferment. If a wine is well aged, it too has gone through a process that may be compared to our engagement of sorrow. Here’s to life, and the fullness of it promised by Jesus.
Civilization 