Advent Week Three in Review
Have you ever seen a
lamb skip? If not, you should drop everything and watch some videos
posthaste. Trust me when I tell you it will be the most DELIGHTFUL diversion
from all that is 2020, and unless you are heartless, it will make you laugh out
loud, giggle, squeal, and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Go Google it
now, I'll wait.
Adorable, right? The epitome of joy! I looked up photos labeled as "joy”, and do you know almost all of them were of people leaping with raised hands and irrepressible smiles? Why do depictions of joy usually include skipping, jumping, leaping, arms up, etc.? What is it that drives us to break free from societal constraints and leap into the freedom of joy?
The pursuit of joy is shared by all people, in all cultures, within all faiths and belief systems. We find glimpses of joy when we see a baby delight in finding his or her toes; when someone dances with abandon; when we taste our first piece of chocolate, or sip of Dr. Pepper. 😃
Maybe it's just me, but I think we often mistake happiness for joy, and pursue it because it instantly satisfies. For Christians, the promise of joy is so much more than a momentary feeling that we chase around in frantic circles, like an addict in search of the next hit. It is not an emotion triggered by temporary pleasures, but a state of being attained exclusively in the presence of God. Joy is soul deep when focused on the God of our salvation. It stays with us through thick and thin. It gives us strength (Nehemiah 8:10). It gives us direction by putting us onto the path to God's presence. (Acts 2:28). It is the second fruit of the Spirit, (Galatians 5:22) sandwiched between love (last week's Advent focus) and peace (next week's Advent focus.) Can you imagine one without the other? Love is found in the person of Jesus, leading to joy, which brings peace.
In this season of anticipation of the birth of our Savior, I think back to the first one who leaped for joy at the coming of the divine babe. Luke 1:41-44 tells the story of his cousin, John the Baptist, who while still in Elizabeth's belly leaped for joy when he heard Mary's greeting. He leaped when he was in the presence of divinity. He leaped when he recognized that Jesus was near, the very King who was growing in Mary's tummy.
Today was spent with my aging parents. My mother is declining more rapidly of late and is frequently talking about death and wanting to be with Jesus. She told me that Jesus had spoken to her today and her face was glowing as she spoke. When she gets agitated, talking about Jesus not only calms her down but brings her back to the present. There is joy in his presence and I guarantee you she would leap and dance and sing loudly if she could!
A few weeks ago, I enJOYed my favorite concert with an EXCEEDINGLY small, socially distanced group. Watching some of my favorite musicians usher us into the full story of Christmas from Genesis through the birth of Jesus brought me joy. There is something special about corporate worship, it must be a precursor to heaven. All the musicians at that concert were insanely talented, but this year one of them caught my eye. He was so obviously enjoying everything, even songs he had not played until a day or two prior because the regular player was quarantined at the last minute. You would think he would have been focused on playing the chords perfectly, singing at the right time, etc. Maybe inside he was, but you wouldn't know it by the way he played, laughed, sang, and LEAPED around on stage. I could not stop watching because his joy was contagious, in the only way ANYONE wants to be contagious right now!
This year we have all had to look harder for true joy. The things that used to masquerade as joy have been stripped away. Can any of us really binge watch more Netflix? Or indulge in more takeout? There is nothing inately wrong with those things, but they have proven to be lacking. In a year like this I can tell you that there IS sheep-skipping joy out there; it is found in the presence of God. If you haven't found it yet, dig a little deeper and ask God to lead you into the fullness of joy found only in HIM. You don't have to leap around life if you find it, but you may find yourself wanting to because it is the MOST beautiful discovery, and once you find it you don't really care what anyone thinks!
