Posts Tagged: whenism

“Whenism”

On April 29, 2020 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

            “This is the day that the LORD has made;

            let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version,

https://accordance.bible/link/read/ESVS#Psa._118:24)

I’ve discovered that I have a terrible disease. Now that I have become aware of it, I realize that I’ve probably had it for years. In fact, when I delve deeply into my memory bank, I realize that I’ve had this chronic condition since I was little. Perhaps it was a birth defect. I need to read up on it in that repository of all wisdom—the Internet.

The disease goes by many names, but I prefer the name “whenism.” The condition is characterized by restlessness, unhappiness, and finding fault with everything and everyone.

The symptoms are many, but they can be subsumed under the beginning word “when.” Here are some manifestations of the disease:

  • When I grow up, they won’t pick on me anymore.
  • When I can drive a car, I’ll be independent.
  • When I graduate from high school, I won’t have to read any more of these confounded books!
  • When I get a job, I’ll be happy.
  • When I get a different job, I’ll be happy.
  • When I get a girlfriend, I won’t be lonely.
  • When I get rid of this girlfriend, I’ll be so much happier.
  • When I get married, I won’t struggle with sexual temptation anymore.
  • When we have children, I’ll become less selfish, because I’ll have the little ones to think of.
  • When the kids are potty trained, then life can get back to normal.
  • When the kids are all in school, then life can get back to normal.
  • When the kids graduate from high school, my wife and I can reconnect.
  • When I get divorced, I’ll be happy.
  • When I get remarried, I’ll be happy.
  • When my second wife stops acting like my first wife, I’ll be happy.
  • When I retire I’ll be happy.
  • When I . . .

Well, I think you get the picture. Not all these things are true for me personally. (For example, I’ve only been married once.) However, there are many other symptoms of whenism that I have not listed that do apply to me. But I am not going to post them on the internet, thank you very much!

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are times when sadness, sorrow, and grief are the order of the day, or the order for many days. The loss of a loved one, a serious illness, and many other things are warrants for all sorts feelings. I am not advocating being sunshine every day. The pain needs to be taken seriously.

However, genuine sorrow and grief can easily deepen into whenism, and whenism is a serious disease. Postponed happiness is just another name for misery. For the most part, if I don’t choose to be happy today, right now, I will never be happy.

I conclude with the words from an old Ed Ames song:

“And so, in this moment, with sunlight above,

My cup runneth over with love.”

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