Don't reach for the antacid - go with that bitter feeling

First Century AD: So I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. Then they said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.’ John the Divine, Revelation 10:10-11

Sixth Century AD: For the mind which the Holy Spirit fills, It moves to bitterness at the temporal in delight at the eternal. For it is sweet to be among human things, except for him who has tasted of the joys of heaven... displeased with himself when he has now begun to please Him who created all things. Gregory the Great, Homilies on the Prophet Ezekiel I.10.43

Fourteenth Century AD: It should be known, then, that God nurtures and caresses the soul... like a loving mother... But as the child grows older,the mother withholds her caresses and hides her tender love; she rubs bitter aloes on her sweet breast and sets the child down from her arms, letting it walk on its own feet so that it may put aside the habits of childhood and grow accustomed to greater and more important things. John of the Cross, The Dark Night I.1.2

2007 AD: This energy causes you to act on the dissatisfaction that's been brewing deep within your soul and compels you to say yes to joining forces with God so that the darkness and depravity around you gets pushed back... Truth be told, the most inspired, motivated, and driven people I know are the ones who live their lives from the energy of their holy discontent. Bill Hybels, Holy Discontent