Wednesday, September 19, 2018

“Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.” (Philippians 2:18, New Living Translation) 

                Being three years old is a wondrous, joyful, exciting, awesome time of life. It almost makes me anticipate my second childhood in my old age.

                Our grandson, Henry, had his three-year old birthday party on Sunday – a family affair. As gifts arrived he would look at them with excitement and wonder, constantly asking whether he could open them - like NOW! But he waited until the party began. But I don’t think angels rejoicing had anything on Henry once the festivities commenced. It wasn’t a greedy sense of getting stuff but rather a spirit of marvel and joy and appreciation as he began opening his gifts.      Even birthday cards, especially if they played music or made sounds, were opened and viewed with appreciation.

The expressions on his face were bursting with happiness and exhilaration as new toys appeared. There were books and clothes, too. It was as much as a little three-year-old could take in, and to top it all off there was chocolate cake and ice cream! We all shared in his joy, gladness and cheerfulness. His joy was infectious and easily spread among the rest of us.

Maybe Jesus was thinking of the pure, uncomplicated spirit of a child’s utter joy when he said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:17, NLT)

As I see it we, many of us adults make joy very conditional on what is happening or worse what is not happening to us in our small corner of our personal worlds. We hinge joy, celebration, happiness on what we have or own. We define satisfaction and contentment on success, achievements, victories, and rewards. I am not suggesting that these are necessarily even “bad” things but life is more precious than just those things.  At times we are so serious and sober and humourless and cynical that it saps any sense of enjoyment we might otherwise find.

We now know that depression is a serious mental health problem. People seem sadder and more melancholy than ever before.  There are times when I look at what is going on in the world right now and it can be hard to put a sincere smile on my face.  I want to hide under the covers until this great wave of negativity (like an emotional tsunami) is over. There seems to be so much hostility, anger, and fear which distort and diminish our capacity to find a real and lasting sense of joy. I am reminded of Jesus’ words, “So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.” (John 16:22, NLT)

What robs you of your joy?

Find the three-year-old child in you.  Remind yourself each and every day that there are deep, meaningful stories of joy happening all around you. There are gifts of people and occasions of serendipitous things which put a smile on your face and a little happy music in your heart and soul. It may be only the red flash of a Cardinal in my front yard tree that reminds me that there is still much beauty and splendour in the world after all but it makes me glad.

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118: 24, NLT)

And then as Paul suggested – share the joy. Spread it around. This will, in turn, actually increase your joy.  God intends for us to be a community of joyful people, to be people who find our authentic voices for praise, delight, blessings, and enjoyment of all God’s gifts in Creation.

Don’t let anyone or any thing rob you of that joy.

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:11, NLT) 

Dale