JOY PART 2

This week I had the class close their eyes.  They were to think about personal joy.  What does it look like?  How does it feel?  What does it sound like?  How does it smell?

How does joy smell?  I do believe the “how does it smell” caught them a bit off guard.  The first smell, baby powder, came from a grandpa, followed by fresh mowed grass, popcorn, fried chicken, suntan lotion, and canning season. 

Now, you must remember this is a rural community, which means everyone understands agriculture.  The discussion quickly went from baby powder and fried chicken to pig manure.  It was mentioned by a man who had memories of showing pigs at the county fair.  Chicken manure was shouted out.  The next comment was, “Yes, chicken manure smells like money to me.”  Smiles came to faces, as the smells of dirt and new mown hay were mentioned.  It seems silage has a unique aroma too.  Yes, these particular smells were given by men who apparently have very unusual olfactory sensory neurons. 

What does joy sound like?  Those farmers kicked in with … are you ready…tractors.  One mother loved to hear the sound of her children getting along and when someone spoke the words, “Your children are so good.”  Joy is music, parents offering wisdom, whistling, and the sounds of nature.  Not everyone agreed on the joy of a rooster sounding the arrival of morning, birds singing, jake brakes, and tap dancing.  Personally, the rooster would end up in the smell column.  (Think about it.)  Everyone agreed that the sound of laughter is pure joy.

How does joy feel?  Joy comes in the warmth of the sun, holding hands, hugs, the excitement of competition, and the adventure of learning new things.  Also, it is the feeling of walking in a creek and mud squishing between your toes.  Someone mentioned the joy of annoying others.  I am not sure why all eyes turned towards me when that was said.  We discussed the joy of being there when a loved one dies.

What does joy look like?  What is personal joy?  This is the longest list.  Joy is having a child run into your arms or sitting beside your loved one.  It is seeing a smile or a full moon or a sunrise or a sunset.  Joy is watching calves run or seeing someone dance.  It is the feeling in our heart when we can help others, encouraging them, and celebrating when a team mate sinks the ball that wins the game.  Joy is having memories play in our mind as if they happened yesterday.  Time is a joy.  Sometimes it is time spent with others or, sometimes, it is being by ourselves doing absolutely nothing.  It looks like work.  Yes, we find joy in the ability to work!  Joy is watching others be happy or doing something that makes them happy.  Joy is telling others about Christ and seeing them change.  Joy is walking into church.  Joy is being with friends, playing sports, and petting a dog.  Joy can look like a clean car. 

We wondered how the list of things that bring us joy would have changed, if people who lived in big cities had been there.  For sure, they would not agree on the smell of pig manure.  They might have mentioned opening night at a theater or catching a cab or the sounds on the street or parks.  We know the child running toward you and baby powder and laughter would be on everyone’s list.

THE WRAP UP

During the discussion, we discovered that what brings one person joy does not necessarily bring another person joy.  That rooster crowing at daybreak is a good example.  The crack of dawn is way before my first cup of coffee and, therefore, not a good thing. It was decided that if we all found joy in the same way, life would be very, very boring. 

By worldly standards, the things that brought us joy would be considered little things:  Smiles.  Laughter.  Baby powder.  Dirt.  Children talking.  Friends.  Being hugged.  Holding hands.  Music.  Dogs. 

There were two of the joys I want you to think about.  They are not little things.

It is hard to comprehend that being with a loved one, when they die, is a joy.  It is a joy and a gift.  One last time you are able to whisper, “I love you.”  That is a gift to the person speaking and to the person hearing.  It is a joy to know your loved one will soon feel no pain.  No cancer.  No arthritis.  No blindness.  No more tears.  Yes, there is joy in being with a loved one when they die.

It is a joy to tell others about Christ.  It is our job to tell them.  To show them by how we live our lives.  To let them see the joy Christ gives to us.  It would be super fantastic if every person we told became an instant believer, but that is not the case.  We are to tell.  God is to open their hearts.  BUT… but… when we do tell someone and God has opened their heart and they get it!  They find Christ!  AND… and… we see their lives change… see them change… THAT IS THE GREATEST JOY OF ALL!

And that is no little thing!