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Joy to the World

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30

We just saw the new Muppet Movie late yesterday afternoon and it was all you could hope for, especially entering into this nostalgic time of year.  There are a few songs that sounded just like Flight of the Concords and turns out, the same guy from that show wrote the ones in the Muppet Movie.  Point is, it was funny and clever like always, filled with believing in the good and beautiful while fighting against the angst and cynicism of our current era.  I give it a thumbs up.  But, this is not a movie review blog, so of course there is more.

I need to be quicker to sing and dance.  I need to have wider eyes, taking in the wonder of lights all over the place for Christmas or stars and fireflies in the summer.  I need to be more romantic.  I need to frolic (and to use the word “frolic”) more often. I need to meander.  And back to the singing and dancing…with a bit more effort than those very talented and funny guys on Flight of the Concords, I could surely make up my own musical numbers to describe the ordinary moments and thoughts throughout my days.  And that comes back around to laughing more, because those dramatic musical numbers for ordinary moments can’t help but make you laugh.  Like Gonzo, I need to rip off my “very successful plumbing business” dark suit and expose a pink sequined leotard and cape to be SuperGonzo again.  OK, maybe not that part, but you get the imagery.

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:  “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.  I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt.  Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful.  Jer. 31:3-4

Yes, life in a broken world is filled with brokenness and very complicated mess.  But it is not void of God’s image either, nor is it absent of evidence of His beauty, power and restoration.  The horrors of the crucifixion were swallowed up in the victory of the resurrection, ascension and current, permanent reign.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”  Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.”  She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).  John 20:15-16

Jesus is often closer than I realize.  His resurrection is often the more immediate reality than the death I am grieving.  His invitation to celebrate will always be the final scene in the story He is writing.  Where I am inclined, oddly, to carry my burdens and sort of collect them like trophies, He is offering to swap those for a dance in the street (better yet, a choreographed one with all the people around) or an evening lying in the grass taking in the lights of nighttime.  He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.  Joy to the world, the savior reigns!

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