We then watched this video, which Eric and Ricardo made last week in Beaverton:
Considering that many of us (at dinner and in the video) expressed feeling joy when things are going well and not feeling joy when life is tougher, we reflected on a few scripture passages together.Luke 1:46-48 (The Message)
46And [when she learned that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit] Mary said,
I'm bursting with God-news;
I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
Matthew 2:9-11 (New International Version, ©2010)
9 After they had heard the king, [the wise ones] went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.Psalm 146:5 (New Living Translation)
5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel[a] as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
It turns out, being joyful might not have as much to do with our circumstances as it has with God showing up. And God is always showing up! How about that? Maybe the last lady in the video didn't say this exactly, but I think she's on to something. We had some interesting conversation, that's for sure.
The young ones expressed their joy with colors and shapes and sprinkles. Mmmmm.....
On a somewhat related note, whenever Eric and I would talk about joy in preparation for The Supper, one of us would start singing the song below and I would get it in my head. I saw Lucinda Williams when she opened up for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers a few years back. Good stuff. I think our joy is in Jesus, but, who knows, maybe yours is in West Memphis. Let me know if you find it :)May your Christmas be filled with wonder and, of course, joy!!!
