Not too long ago someone asked me to define "joy". That is a great question. It is difficult sometimes to differentiate between joy and feeling happy. Usually the definition of joy separates the experience of joy from the surrounding circumstances. Having chocolate cake on my birthday feels awfully good but probably isn't joy. So, how do we really describe it? I have been trying to process the things I learned from the Ironman triathlon. Here is my shot at joy. During the bike route they had food and water stations about every 15 miles or so. Normally you only carry two water bottles on your bike so stations like that are really important. The stations had volunteers holding out bottles of water or Gatorade or power bars and we would swoop in on our bikes and grab what we needed out of their hands. I guess that is as close as I will get to feeling like a hawk. Anyway, whenever I would see a station coming up my heart would jump a little, I would check to see what I needed and grab it as I went by. I felt something akin to elation and even some affection toward the volunteers who were standing out in the hot sun and providing what I needed. If I was really thirsty the feelings were even stronger. Later during the marathon at mile 12 I looked up and saw something else that made my heart jump. My daughter Rachel had decided to surprise me and had driven all the way from Virginia with my grandson Liam. At mile 12 they met me. I yelled and laughed and grabbed Liam up in my arms. At that point in the race I had already swam 2.4 miles, biked 112, and was at mile 12 of the run. I was sore in about every place I had a place. Every step hurt something and somewhere. Liam had no help to give. He couldn't relieve my discomfort or make my race easier and yet seeing him and holding him filled my heart. That is joy. The food stations made me happy because of what they had for me and how they could help me. Liam made me happy just for who he was. Jesus came to give us joy. Not the joy of filling our needs but the joy of who he his. I want to be able to experience the joy of the presence of Jesus whether I am at a birthday party or in a hospital room. When I am on my death bed, I want to look up and see Jesus and feel the way I felt on mile 12 of the Ironman.
Join in realizing the vision of Christ Community Chapel with Senior Pastor Joe Coffey
2 comments:
My grandfather knew Jesus, he had faith that carried him through his whole life ( raising 9 children ). On his death bed...he was dying of Painful bone cancer, he could not have been happier....more peaceful. I was only 18 and could not understand....when he would tell me, "I AM Blessed. I've never been happier." He was in excruciating pain, dying, dwindling away physically....yet spiritually his faith was never stronger. He had Joy in the Lord, even at his darkest hour. He was peaceful, fulfilled, surrounded by family, happy. Although I couldn't understand it then...I know Jesus' power, love, strength, grace...watching the way my grandfather as he dealt with death strengthened my faith forever. I saw the Joy of the Lord.
That is a wonderful legacy your grandfather left. It is the way I want to die. I remember hearing about a man whose dying words were,"He really is a wonderful savior". Those are the words I want to have on my lips as I enter into glory.
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