Expectations

So I was recently introduced to the Buddhist idea that all of life is suffering and thus the whole point of this journey is to escape into an enlightened state called nirvana...for some reason I do not think the band of the same name has achieved, nor leads life in such a way so as to achieve this state. That notwithstanding, my initial reaction to this idea was diametrical opposition because of the fact that we can experience pleasure and joy in this life. Pope Benedict even goes so far as to say that the love we experience on this earth lifts us up to an experience of God (Deus Caritas Est), and I must say that I have been very blessed in this life to both see and participate in these "heavenly" experiences. Yet suffering is a part of life, look at the life of Christ who took on all of our sins, our evil thoughts, deeds, and actions, then died the most horrible of deaths that is likely the most gruesome possible even by the standards of today's culture of death. We each get a little taste of that with every day that passes. No matter how much fun and joy fill one day, the next could bring a death in the family; even in marriage or the priesthood, the finding of vocation, there are inherent sufferings to be had.

What good are expectations then? They will often be left unfulfilled, the things of this life cannot completely fill the void within us, so why expect anything? I think it is better to hope and dream, to live with these in mind and to roll with what actually occurs instead of always expecting everything to turn out the way you want. Life will bring good things one day, then take them away the next; I think everyone, myself included should read Job...God stood by him through the good times and the bad, the wealth and stature, the poverty and sickness. He will do the same for us, His grace is always available to us, but we have to take up our own crosses and live for him instead of expecting Him to make everything happen the way we want...