Well, of course.

Well, of course. Now that everyone realizes we'll be done in a week and a half. Now that everyone is realizing that their frustrations and grumblings were, in fact, quite petty, and the real issue may not be those around them, but something a little closer to home. Now that everyone is realizing how blessed they really were to have such a great environment of encouragers and people who told them the truth about life. Now that they are realizing that they may never have something quite like this ever again. 

Of course everyone is finally enjoying and embracing each person for who they are. Of course there are genuine smiles given down the halls in passing period. Of course the teacher is finally gaining some humility, realizing that maybe he wasn't the ultimate source of success for his students, although he was a factor. Of course people are finally expressing how they really feel about others, understanding that there is now no room for dishonesty or hidden appreciation. Of course deep friendships are just now developing.

I am not saying that these feelings of appreciation and embracing others, which are just now happening, are superficial acts of love. They are real and meaningful and genuinely given. But why are they blossoming at the end of it all? Why not live that way all the time? Becuase "life happens"? Because today we are happy and tomorrow "screw the world because I didn't have my corn flakes"? I would beg to disagree with that argument. Yes, we are human and we all have bad days. But is that an excuse to forget that we are supposed to be a reflection of Christ in everything we do? I would argue that each person, whether happy or sad, mad or joyful, has the capability of being genuine all the time. I mean, as Christians, aren't we held to a standard of being real? Not judgmental or self-seeking, but real?

"I pack my trunk, embrace my friends, embark on the sea, and at last wake up in Naples, and there beside me is the Stern fact, the Sad Self, unrelenting, identical, that I fled from." 

-Emerson

What's the point of short-lived enjoyment when it's not really who we are as whole persons?