Joy is not a word that denotes giddiness or laughter so much as a deep-seeded experience that brings hope and acceptance. It is the source of happiness even in the midst of trouble or hardship or fear. It is a word and thought we will revisit over time as we read and study God’s Word.

So, the new title of my blogs beginning now in mid-November of 2020 (during the COVID pandemic) is “JOY, GENTLE FRIENDS.” When you come to my home, it is the message with which you will greeted. I hope that as you read these reflections, pray, and meditate over them, you will find insight, peace, and a joy from God that passes all understanding. Joy, gentle friends!

Prayer: God of hope and deep-rooted joy, fill us today and tomorrow. Help us to share your joy with others. Amen.

In so many countries in the world, there are systems in place where their citizens have no freedom to express an opinion or to disagree with a decision being made by the reigning government. Many people live in fear of disagreeing with the ruler or president or other governing bodies of their country. Living in Liberia, we were made aware of the difficulties of living under a dictatorship. There were always those who were out to get a fellow citizen in trouble. Much like what Jesus experienced.

Praise God for the gift of democracy under which we live. Praise God that we have the right to disagree with the policies of our governing entities. Praise God that we do not have to fear for our lives if others do not agree with us. Praise God that we can demonstrate our Christian love to those who may vote or think differently than we do.

I suspect that God also feels abandoned and sad that the message of God’s love lies forgotten as we fill our thoughts and activities with other things—walking right by God even as God cares and loves us and empowers goodness in all of us. Sometimes it takes a novel to wake me up to the miracles of an open grave that signals God present and active.

Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he…

I thank God for Charlotte and all those like her who have graced me with their love, faith, and friendship.

God is and always has been way ahead of us from the get-go. God not only has watched us with a gleeful eye as we have uncovered the intricacies of the power and workings that are daily revealed but God is also opening new possibilities to the curious and the scientific about new things just waiting to be discovered all the time. I believe God is walking just before us to guide us and lead us in the opportunities that lie before us.

Wilderness to me equates to a desert place—a deserted place—where one is given the opportunity to think, to re-evaluate, to plan, or to discern. It is a place and time to get in touch with who we are and whose we are. It gives us a chance to choose who will govern and guide our lives. It is a time to tune out the noises that work so hard to convince us, to change us, to rule us. What direction is the right way? A desert time is what I need the most right now and I suspect you do too.

Even in the darkest of times, there are these little lights of hope and caring that occur. How important it is for us to feel the blessings of those moments. It also reminds us that we have opportunities to be lights of encouragement or joy to others.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I am convinced that God wants us to think seriously about how we are treating the aged, the poor, and the foreigner among us. For us to truly be God’s holy people, to be holy as God is holy, we may need to make some changes in our behavior, our words, and our attitudes toward the foreigner. It will mean we treat the foreigner as ourselves and stand with them through the tumultuous times we are facing.