talking about a laughter that’s fueled by alcohol or idiocy. I’m talking about a laughter that is fueled by Christ. To remember the sun’s existence on a rainy day is to remember reality. Dancing in the downpour is a prophetic thing: it will not always storm.
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“Optimism breaks through agnosticism like fiery gold round the edges of a black cloud.”15
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“Joy, which was the small publicity of the Pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.”16
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“I have come into my second childhood.”17
We need a second childhood, to be born again into childlikeness.
A joyful heart really is wonderful medicine, healing the imbiber and others besides.
We must boldly remember that after mourning comes dancing, and gazelles still dance on mountains of spices.
Humanism: Enemy of Happiness
Happiness without Christ relies on humanism. And humanism, as a source of joy, is simply not strong enough or deep enough for the long haul. It can produce flashes of joy and pleasure, for sure, but it is not durable. It is a plastic bag.
The alternative, according to Chesterton, enables joy. Speaking of Robert Louis Stevenson, Chesterton said,
“Stevenson’s enormous capacity for joy flowed directly out of his profoundly religious temperament. He conceived himself as an unimportant guest at one eternal and uproarious banquet.”18
The Christianized humanist stands on the edge of the sea and says, “How great I am that the God of all this would love me!” The Christian stands at the same sea and exclaims, “How great God is that he would create all of this and love me!” Though those two statements sound similar, they diverge sharply and, having diverged, end poles apart.
So Rebel Already
Look for the wonder. Look for the humor. Laugh at the darkness as a child of the light.
Don’t be afraid of the Godly Guffaw.
Read Chesterton.
Now, I’m not interested in ignorant bliss. I’m not promoting a happiness that exists only in the absence of pain. I’m advocating a worldview that views the world as it is, and then keeps looking. To see the world as it is, isolated and suspended in nothing, results in terror and too great a cognitive dissonance.
No, we must see the world as it is, without blinders, and then we must keep looking and see the great Actor who exists outside of (and inside of) the world.
His presence changes things. It must change things.
So look up.
Lift up your head and see the King.
Who is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty;
the LORD, invincible in battle.
Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
Who is the King of glory?
The LORD of heaven’s armies—
he is the King of glory.
(Ps 24:8–10)
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You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
(1 Pet 1:8)
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Come, everyone!
Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the LORD Most High is awesome.
He is the great King of all the earth.
(Ps 47:1–2)
14. Belmonte, Year with G.K. Chesterton, 124.
15. Belmonte, Year with G.K. Chesterton, 47.
16. Belmonte, Year with G.K. Chesterton, 95.
17. Belmonte, Year with G.K. Chesterton, 82.
18. Chesterton, in Belmonte, Year with G.K. Chesterton, 89.
Our First Month Abroad: the Journal Entries
by Elizabeth
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Cor 1:4)
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I almost didn’t publish the following journal entries, which I recorded during our first weeks in Cambodia. When I read them for the first time after a year, I was surprised by the intensity of my original feelings (although I’m nothing if not intense). I remembered that time as being bad, but not this bad. I’m sharing some of my journal here because I want 1) to give people hope, 2) to proclaim, along with Samuel, “thus far has the Lord helped us” (1 Sam 7:12 NIV), and 3) never to lose my compassion for those currently in the depths of despair.
I’m happy here now, and I’m no longer plagued by any of these yucks. We worked to correct some of them, while I simply became accustomed to others. The yays, however, persist—my dependence on worship, laughter, and a wonderful husband, haven’t changed at all.
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Arrival Date: January 16th, 2012.
Friday, January 20th
And there is absolutely nothing about this place that I don’t hate. Can’t think of any earthly reason why we shouldn’t just pack up and go back. So I pretty much don’t know how I’m ever going to survive here, let alone be happy again.
[Theme #1: My overreactor is dialed ALL the way up. You’ll see this repeated quite often.]
Sunday, January 22nd
Church was so good for my soul. “My life is in
