ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
May 29, 2026
Yesterday, I was enjoying a good Thai restaurant at lunch, when I glanced out the window to see a young man, probably 15 years old, across the street from the restaurant. It was about 1pm, and I suddenly realized it was the last day of school and he probably had only a half day. When traffic eased so he could cross, he skipped across the street and then across the parking lot where the restaurant was. He was tall and pretty muscular, and maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised, but it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen a 15-year-old skip. It brought a big smile to my face, and though I don’t know for sure, I imagine it was a small expression of joy on that final day of school.
How often do we feel some joy, yet we quickly dampen any sort of public display as it doesn’t feel appropriate? Actually, we squelch it because we are a little hesitant to demonstrate what might be perceived as outside the norm. Yet why would joy ever be considered outside the norm? As the Apostle Paul was bringing First Thessalonians to a close, he wrote, “Always be joyful!” I’m not suggesting that joy is always expressed in skipping or goofy giddiness, but joy can be transformative to the moment. Joy is, at least in my opinion, the conviction that God is forever present and seeking to be known. And whether we are having our best day or our worst day, there can be joy when we realize that God is there to walk with us and to remind us how precious we are.
Provide me with a vision to see your eternal and grace-filled presence. No matter what’s happening in life, it is always good to see you and to be affirmed by you, Holy God. Amen.
