Man is more himself, man is more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing in him, and grief the superficial. Melancholy should be an innocent interlude, a tender and fugitive frame of mind; praise should be the permanent pulsation of the soul. Pessimism is at best an emotional half-holiday; joy is the uproarious labour by which all things live. Chesterton, Gilbert Keith (2013-06-17). Orthodoxy (Moody Classics) . Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
I don’t know about you; but since joy has not been a constant companion upon my lifelong journey, evidently I have not experienced the “more than me” Chesterton notes here, my soul has had little or no “praise fuel” propellant, and I sadly am more accustomed to off-days due to unemployment rather than doing the heavy lifting of hilarious joy.
Damn. And I thought I had this Christian deal down.
WAIT! I just remembered my old friend, Abe---ROMANS 4:18-20—“In hope against hope [Abraham] believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, ‘SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.’ And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God.”
Thanks, God. I needed that—a giant gulp of joy juice.