Everything's Shiny
Today as I was folding a mountain of laundry(reality check, it was probably a mole hill) I was thinking about someone I hadn't seen in 3 or 4 years that I may see in the near future. I am one that tends to run "what if" scenarios. I started thinking about catching up, what life is happening now that is different from the last time I saw them. All normal catching up stuff, family, jobs, etc. Then I realized that not only is it likely that the church we are involved in is different but my involvement within the church has changed. All of a sudden I found myself mentally telling them "I'm loving most minutes of it." After coming back from my musical interlude that thought triggered, I realized that as a parent and christian it seems that the general expectation of life is to be in a good place constantly.
A few years ago I realized my kids were learning the old church song "happy all the time" in our kids program. This bugged me... a lot! If you're not familiar with the lyrics it says" Since Jesus Christ came in, And took away my sin. I'm inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time." Let me just be clear. I am NOT happy all the time. Even on my best days in my relationship with Christ I may not be happy all the time. The book of psalms is literally all over the place emotionally. If we are made in God's image shouldn't our ever fluctuating emotions be a good thing? Don't get me wrong, I am not going to use this as an excuse to let my emotions get the best of me or even hurt others, but feeling things strongly at times makes sense and it's not a flaw. So why are we teaching preschoolers, who are still figuring out emotions, that Jesus=Happy?
Let me clarify something. Happiness is not the same thing as Joy in my book. As far as the dictionary is concerned they are synonyms, but I disagree. Happiness is often effected by external stimuli, whereas Joy comes from an internal source. Or in non-nerd... things, events, people can have an effect on your happiness, but Joy can't be taken away. Joy, as I see it, can only come from God. It is that peace that passes understanding(phil. 4:7). I can be having the worst day, and still know that God is in control and has me firmly taken care of. I am not happy, but I can still find joy in it.
Well if I have learned anything about myself over the last decade of my life it's that God didn't make me to fit in, I fit out. I break all those molds, and frankly I am thrilled to do so. I did my years living in my "life is great" mask, doing what was expected. I have to be intentional about it, but I don't pretend to be doing well on days I am not. I don't want to lie to your face. I have on more than one occasion answered the flippant, "how are you?" honestly and thrown people. They weren't looking for the real answer. They checked a box by asking and I failed to check my box by answering "fine." That's ok, I don't meet people's expectations.It has taken me lots of years to realize that God isn't going to give me a perfect life. He's not going to give you one either. In John 16:33 Jesus not only tells us that but tells us he's got us covered. So why do we as a culture sit around and insist on only showing each other our happy life? "Everything's shiny Cap'n!" Chances are it's not. So let's take a minute, let's be real. Let's admit, "I am having a rough day." Let's pray with those having a rough day. Let's join in life to make it easier. Make a meal. Mow a yard. Hold a baby. Fold some laundry. See a need, fill a need. Let's live life together. Let's get in and get dirty if need be, but let's be real.
A few years ago I realized my kids were learning the old church song "happy all the time" in our kids program. This bugged me... a lot! If you're not familiar with the lyrics it says" Since Jesus Christ came in, And took away my sin. I'm inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time." Let me just be clear. I am NOT happy all the time. Even on my best days in my relationship with Christ I may not be happy all the time. The book of psalms is literally all over the place emotionally. If we are made in God's image shouldn't our ever fluctuating emotions be a good thing? Don't get me wrong, I am not going to use this as an excuse to let my emotions get the best of me or even hurt others, but feeling things strongly at times makes sense and it's not a flaw. So why are we teaching preschoolers, who are still figuring out emotions, that Jesus=Happy?
Let me clarify something. Happiness is not the same thing as Joy in my book. As far as the dictionary is concerned they are synonyms, but I disagree. Happiness is often effected by external stimuli, whereas Joy comes from an internal source. Or in non-nerd... things, events, people can have an effect on your happiness, but Joy can't be taken away. Joy, as I see it, can only come from God. It is that peace that passes understanding(phil. 4:7). I can be having the worst day, and still know that God is in control and has me firmly taken care of. I am not happy, but I can still find joy in it.
Well if I have learned anything about myself over the last decade of my life it's that God didn't make me to fit in, I fit out. I break all those molds, and frankly I am thrilled to do so. I did my years living in my "life is great" mask, doing what was expected. I have to be intentional about it, but I don't pretend to be doing well on days I am not. I don't want to lie to your face. I have on more than one occasion answered the flippant, "how are you?" honestly and thrown people. They weren't looking for the real answer. They checked a box by asking and I failed to check my box by answering "fine." That's ok, I don't meet people's expectations.It has taken me lots of years to realize that God isn't going to give me a perfect life. He's not going to give you one either. In John 16:33 Jesus not only tells us that but tells us he's got us covered. So why do we as a culture sit around and insist on only showing each other our happy life? "Everything's shiny Cap'n!" Chances are it's not. So let's take a minute, let's be real. Let's admit, "I am having a rough day." Let's pray with those having a rough day. Let's join in life to make it easier. Make a meal. Mow a yard. Hold a baby. Fold some laundry. See a need, fill a need. Let's live life together. Let's get in and get dirty if need be, but let's be real.
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