We are back in Holland following our successful trip to Sioux Center and Joyce's mom's 95th birthday party. We had a delightful time. It was great seeing family and friends on our trip. It is also good to be back home and a more normal schedule and not living out of a suitcase. Sarah, Joel, Maya and Cora are coming to Holland late tomorrow night for the July 4 holiday. It will be a fun and busy weekend.
The late Henri J.M. Nouwen writes the following about joy: "The joy that Jesus offers his disciples is his own joy, which flows from his intimate communion with the One who sent him. it is a joy that does not separate happy days from sad days, successful moments from moments of failure, experiences of honor from experiences of dishonor, passion [death] from resurrection. This joy is a divine gift that does not leave us during times of illness, poverty, oppression, or persecution. It is present even when the world laughs or tortures, robs or maims, fights or kills. it is truly ecstatic, always moving us away from the house of fear into the house of love, and always proclaiming that death no longer has the final say, though its noise remains loud and its devastation visible. The joy of Jesus lifts up life to be celebrated."
I'm all for celebrating life though at present at my age I have many aches and pains that detract from my full celebration of life. So this joy of which Nouwen writes is still a work in progress in my living. Then I remind us also that our fullness of life is not about us but about the one who created us and showed us love through the gift of Jesus of Nazareth the Christ. In one simple word: grace or unmerited favor or God doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Happy 4th of July to each of you. Remember Jesus said "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." I appreciate and like the freedom I've been given through Jesus.
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