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Kids say and do the craziest things sometimes. I remember driving home after picking up my daughter from pre-school one day and asking the proverbial question, “What did you do in school today?” She sat in her car seat and thought for a minute and said, “We learned how to do the Hokey Pokey!” As I looked in the rear-view mirror at her smiling face I asked, “Is that when you do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around?” Smugly she stared right back at me with a nonchalant tone and said, “Yep. That’s what it’s all about.”
Joy in the journey, it’s what makes our lives bearable sometimes. My daughter’s satisfaction in a simple song and dance produced a big laugh from me and just about anyone else I told the story to. So much of what we see and hear on the news these days tends to rob us of our joy. Events and circumstances that can be crushing to your spirit will rob you of your joy. We have so many things that seem to stack against us, and then a simple turn of a phrase, a beautiful sunset, a day with a friend, or perhaps just a good night’s sleep can turn it around.
Many times as a pastor and even a chaplain I’m called upon to decipher the hurt in someone’s life and provide answers. Thankfully, I have a great resource guide called “the Bible” which is full of incredible advice on how to live a joy-filled life in spite of the circumstances we face. The good thing about this resource is that it doesn’t candy coat the issues. Reading Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes is a study in angst and suffering. Job definitely had a pretty bad go of it. Let’s not forget King David as he wrote Psalm after Psalm struggling with issues like death, betrayal, unbelief, sorrow and bitterness.
Two key things help produce that joy that we are looking for. The Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthian church describes it as a body and how what happens to one part affects the whole part. As members of a community here in Maricopa, we can help produce joy in others by giving of our time, our hearts and perhaps just a listening ear to someone who is suffering. Paul says, “When one member suffers, all suffer. When one member is honored, all rejoice (have joy!).” Joy is a community-shared emotion.
The second thing that helps produce joy is to have a relationship with God. There are so many great Bible-based churches here in Maricopa. Why not take some time to hang out with people who will pray for you and rejoice with you in your life? Read the “resource manual” and pray. I’ve noticed that when the chips are down and things are at their worst, people naturally turn to prayer. Even if you are not a person of faith, God does care about you and what you are going through. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” – Romans 8:28. Joy in spite of sorrow. Now that’s worth doing the Hokey Pokey.
Chris Ward is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Maricopa, which he co-founded with Clark Vangilder in May 2005. Calvary Chapel holds three services every Sunday morning in the Stagestop Marketplace. For more information, call (520) 568-5400 or go to www.calvarymaricopa.org.
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