Untethered Joy (a replacement for Day 7)

When is the last time you were joyful and free to express it like a child?

This question occurred to me as I was overcome with endorphins sprinting down my street during a morning workout while listening to Don’t Give Up on Me by Andy Grammar as loud as my ear buds would go.

As I slowed to a walk before my next sprint my feet kicked out and my hips started swaying almost uncontrollably as I smiled to myself. I felt delight, truly joyful for no other reason than because I felt grateful to be alive. It was a rare moment in time.

I noticed the cows in the field I was passing. They were close to the fence but as I danced nearer, they studied me briefly before retreating quickly to the far end of the field. They moved faster as I laughed out loud.

Like a crazy person, I intermittently giggled at myself and watched to make sure cars weren’t about to turn down the empty road. Although I was thoroughly enjoying myself dancing and running I would surely have pretended to be swinging at a bug if someone caught a glimpse.

Johnnathan came home from taking the kids to school while I was on my way back. As I danced up the driveway, he was petting our dog Daisy and said he heard what he could only assume was either a drunk, unintelligible injured woman or a grunting zombie meandering up our driveway. (After he relayed this to me I now fully understand what he thinks of my singing and dancing skills.)

He then turned around and stared at me swaying and grooving up the driveway, his brow furrowed in bewilderment.

As I took out my ear buds and sang out “…Even when nobody else believes … I’m not goin’ down that easily!” Daisy didn’t even cock her head and seemed to smile as she wagged her tail harder, sharing in my glee.

In the future, I hope my reaction to other people’s spontaneous expression of inner joy is less like judgy cows and husbands and more like Daisy - with mutual expectancy and celebration.

If I am to properly discuss focusing my thoughts and actions on Jesus with renewed purpose, I cannot forgot intentional joy - seeking it out - just for the very delight of life. Thanks to Him, I have many moments to experience simple joys every day, if I am only paying attention.

I didn’t write Day 7 because I couldn’t wrap up all of the intimate things from the Blank Page challenge in one post. It seemed too trite, like it would minimize the overall purpose. Rather, it seemed better to continue on to the next everyday challenge with joy, since each day God is writing our story for his own good pleasure. Phil. 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

So my prayer and intense hope for everyone that reads this is that the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom. 15:13

And also that you would experience the delight of singing loudly to random cows. I highly recommend it.