I Thessalonians 5:16 - 18:
Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods Will for you in Christ Jesus.
Elk Calf Playing
We are living in uncertain times. It has always been so. Economic crisis and global disasters seem to be a constant in our lives. Yet another earthquake has rocked the planet, this time in Turkey. We are burdened with concerns for our families, our nation and those in the world facing disasters. Even worse, sometimes we have lost our concern for others due to the magnitude of the problems surrounding the world. We can feel overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the needs.
In the Gospel of John 6: 5-7 after Jesus preaches to the multitudes He asks his disciples “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”
One of his disciples, Andrew, spoke up (John 6:9) “Here is a boy with five loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
As it turns out, the boy’s lunch was enough to feed 5000 men plus the women and children. Jesus took what was offered and made it become enough. Our first step is to offer our help. Jesus will do the multiplying.
But what about this “joy” Paul talks about? How can we be joyful when so many others are suffering? There is the weight of the souls of the lost all around us, many of whom we have prayed for, witnessed to and agonized over, sometimes for years. There are the cries of those in poverty, war, and natural disasters. There is the daily battle with sin in our own lives. This is some sobering stuff.
Earlier this winter a friend sent me a short video called “Elk Calf Playing”. I tried to track the person who made the video but could not. My guess is that it came from a trail camera set up near an elk wallow.
The video shows an elk calf running to the tiny pond, jumping in and splashing for all he was worth. He bucked and jumped and played so hard he had to stop and catch his breath, then he continued splashing. Finally he ran out of the picture covered with mud and very happy. This video gives me joy every time I watch it. It reminds me that Jesus, the creator of elk, is also filled with joy. Someday, all will be right. Joy will reign and sorrow will be banished forever. Heaven’s bright morning will come and all evil, disaster, and sin will be destroyed.
Now, we must do what we can to help. We must carry burdens and share the Good News. But, we must also remember the Joy of the Lord. And what does that joy look like? Sometimes it looks like and elk calf playing.