Does "Bitter" Lead One to God?

Much has been made of Obama's words about middle Americans being "bitter," which he says has led them to religion, among other things. Political persuasions aside, I respectfully disagree with Senator Obama's statement.  My observation has been that people who are bitter do not draw nearer to God.  Rather, bitterness produces cynicism, diminishes faith, and catches the person in a trap that leads anywhere but to a heart open to faith.  In fact, bitterness hardens the soul and poisons the spirit. What I've observed is that bitter people withdraw from intimate communication with God and with others.

One of the choices I wrote about in "This Wasn't Supposed to Happen to Me" was Bitterness vs. Forgiveness.  You can read more about how to let go of bitterness there. But for now, allow me to remind you that bitterness is like acide; it eats the container that holds it.

Dr. Bev