Irving Berlin, who lived to the age of 101, was a Russian Jewish immigrant who wrote nearly 1,000 songs, including “God Bless America,” ”White Christmas,” and “Easter Parade.” Until the end, he never stopped making music. The aging composer once said, “The question is, ‘Are you going to be a crabby old man or are you going to write another song?’”
We all know life is difficult. Sometimes, it seems amazingly unfair. However, there is also tremendous beauty to be seen and times of joy to be savored. As Christians there is our Savior’s promise of peace and an eternal hope that gives us more reason to celebrate the wonder of life and to guard our hearts and spirits against the brokenness that dries our bones. We need a merry heart. We need laughter and joy that comes from the deepest well of all, our relationship with Christ.
Billy Sunday, in a sermon given in 1914 made the challenging assessment that, “The trouble with many men is that they have got just enough religion to make them miserable. If there is not joy in religion, you have got a leak in your religion.” Our faith should not make us miserable, it should fill us to overflowing with joy. Jesus wants us to know and experience His joy and the enemy works hard to keep us from it because just as the Word of God proclaims, “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”
Don’t settle for just enough of the Christian faith to miss the blessing of God’s overflowing joy. Don’t allow a small dose of the faith to inoculate you from catching the fullness of the promise. Press on to experience the joy of the Lord.
At times, I am drawn back to the simple prayer of St. Theresa of Avila, “From somber, serious, sullen saints, save us, O Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.” We need to let go of that which squelches joy and celebration and embrace the glorious party that is the kingdom of God. There is life in our humor and in our laughter, not only for us, but for the world as well.
As we move into the fall season, where many of us are tempted to retreat into our home, and into ourselves, let us make a commitment to make this year different. Let’s look for humor; for reasons to smile and to laugh. Let’s not take ourselves or our circumstances too seriously, and enjoy the life that we are given. Jesus himself said that he came, “that we might have life and have it abundantly.” Let’s live as those who continue to receive the abundant life that He promised.
I invite you to start with this prayer of Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon, “come and help us, Lord Jesus. A vision of your face will brighten us; but to feel your Spirit touching us will make us vigorous. Oh! for the leaping and walking of the man born lame. May we today dance with holy joy, like David before the ark of God. May a holy exhilaration take possession of every part of us; may we be glad in the Lord; may our mouth be filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing, ‘for the Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.’”
With that in mind, are you going to be a grumpy old soul, or are you going to be part of the Lord’s beautiful song?
