Martha Hill Jamison, St. Luke’s Member since 1985, staid church lady

Psalms 47:1  (New Century Version)
Clap your hands, all you people;
   shout to God with joy.

Reflection:
“That’s a good yahoo, son.” What a high compliment given in the movie “City Slickers” by the rancher to one of the “dudes,” Ed. Ed is so excited at the prospect of doing actual cowboy work while at the ranch that he cries out: “Ya—hoo!” This is the unrestrained, spontaneous expression of joy that God so wants to hear from us at Advent. The Christ Child is coming! Ya—hoo!

Whereas we spend most of the year expressing our Christian joy gratefully, blissfully at peace, wearing our Mona Lisa smile with folded hands (all entirely appropriate) at Advent, we need to jump, twist, clap our hands and shout (as able). Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Ya—hoo!

As we mature and carry more responsibility into the world, we become self-conscious and less able to make fools of ourselves. Yet, isn’t that what God wants from us? To reject worldly cares, to lose ourselves in our love for Jesus? Easier said than done, right? But even moments of joy are worth it!

If ever joy felt like but an elusive memory, it is during 2020. The quarantine has worn us down. We are tired, anxious, lonely. We miss normalcy. We miss our friends. We miss our church. 

Well, I bring you good tidings! 2020 has brought us good news as well! As Prof. William Purkey said :
“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.”

Guess what? In a pandemic, nobody IS watching! If ever we were free from judgment, criticism or fear of what other might think when we loudly express our joy for what God has done, this is this time. Go for it!

If you need a nudge, watch this video clip. Not a Christmas song, but you can’t resist tapping your toe. Give that joy to Jesus. The Lord is come!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwGp16NXgQU (Do the Conga)

Prayer:
Holy God, help us turn off Netflix, do the Conga, and shout for joy. Help us respond to the Good News of Advent with a loud yahoo! Amen.