Weird joy post

So, I've been doing some fun fiction reading lately...like old-school-type fiction. One of the books I just finished was "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," and the other, which I just finished today, was "The Hobbit." I noticed a very interesting difference between the attitudes of people "in those days" versus the attitudes of people in America today. In "Gawain," a Middle English poem, everyone seemed to be rejoicing constantly about life and love, were very welcoming toward strangers, and held honour, virtue, and personal piety in high esteem. Of course the story is a romance, so it's only natural that the world seems a better place. However, even in Tolkien's "The Hobbit" this spirit of mirth and celebration was captured well, as the traveling heroes in the story were given warm welcomes in most places, long stays and magnificent send-offs. In his parting words, one of the heroes says, "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."

When hard times came, the characters in these stories buckled down, prepared for the worst, and stayed loyal to their friends and personal convictions. When the hard times were over, the transition usually seemed overly dramatic: celebrating, much joy and cheer, and almost always songs. The people coming out of the hardships had reason to rejoice, so they did. It seems natural, doesn't it?

Maybe it's just me, but I feel that we have a whole lot of reasons to celebrate nowadays, yet most people don't seem to think so. Our lives are pretty cushy here in America, and when they get a little less cushy than usual...OMG THE WORLD IS FALLING APART. I know I'm guilty of thinking this way, at least. Really, when things get a little difficult, it might do us better to realise that such is life, and it's blessings and difficulties both are gifts.

Christians in particular have reason to be joyful in life...ALONG with being told that we pretty much are REQUIRED to be joyful, haha. We've been saved from an eternity away from God...so why would we not rejoice all the time? Why should a boring job we don't like be enough to bog down our spirits? Why should some financial hardships make us feel like we're not going to make it?

Some better questions, though: Why do we forget God when these troubles are over? Why do we ask for God's help in all these things, then become complacent when He pulls us through? Should we not rather be celebrating His goodness instead of saying, "Oh, things are better now. FINALLY." We act like it's our right to have happy, easy lives...so when things go "back to normal," there is a distinct lack of celebration. Our lives are just "okay" unless something absolutely FANTASTIC is going on, then things are great! While nothing particularly special is happening, though, we tend to think life is pretty lame. We get bored and try to find something to do that excites our imaginations...all while angels and saints in heaven are rejoicing for eternity because of God's mercy and love. We have the same reasons to be excited as they do. If we decided to be more grateful for what we've been given, maybe we would see more clearly what it means to be joyful in every circumstance.

Go be thankful for what God has given you here on earth and in eternity to come. Live as those whose lives have been truly saved...because that is exactly what has happened.

Give someone a reason to ask you why you're so joyful.

Peace.