Dear Friends,

Last week’s post ended with this paragraph:

“What’s wild to me is that I’m pretty sure (and scholars I’ve been reading would corroborate) that the actual text in Genesis has something else entirely in mind! Circle back to the image (and the translation in paragraph 1 above) and see what you think the “something else” might be. I expect I’ll head in that direction in the sermon. (Yup, the sermon that may never see light of day because snowmageddon appears to be on the way!)”

As it turned out, snowmageddon 2026 wasn’t all it could have been (at least not for us; mercy, the reports from elsewhere in the country!)

At some point in the lead-up to Sunday, Terri and I had a chat about the plan for February 1 in light of the January 25 cancellation. We decided to push our January 25 plan forward a week and skip our planned focus for February 1. In real life that means last week’s sermon (and choir anthem) will see the light of day.

When the Thursday Morning Bible Study took up the text intended for February 1 (Psalm 118.1-2,19-29), we ended up in a conversation about happiness. Effectively, “can you be happy-slash-content even when you’re not particularly happy-slash-grinning.” I expect that’s a crucial consideration for people who follow Jesus, so stay tuned for that focus in a future week! (Actually, with the Beatitudes a our focus for Lent, be ready for a whole season of that focus.)

Meanwhile, I was clearing out digital files yesterday and ran across a note I wrote several years ago to someone who’d just been moved to hospice care. I dared to give that friend a to-do list! I can remember when the to-do list came to me; I was wondering what in the world I was going to say to that person as real encouragement. The list practically fell from the sky (maybe a heavenly messenger brought it down a ladder?) and it strikes me as one potential answer to the question, “How can you be happy even as you face your death?”:

• Laugh a little – even in the hardest of places, I pray joy always finds you.
• Cry a little – because this means you’re spending sacred time with people you love.
• Read a little – or listen to something going on ‘out there’ so that your world stays wide.
• Visit a little – and stay connected to friends and others who make up your community.
• Eat a little – even as you begin to imagine the Great Feast, let every bite be a foretaste of that banquet.
• Splash a little – whether it’s washing your face or soaking in a tub, whenever water touches you, remember that baptism promises new life every. single. day.

Re-reading that list today, I might add a couple of things – “Share a little” and “Listen a little” come to mind – but for the most part I expect these rough measures get us closer to “happy” than the happiness factors our culture would have us adopt.

What else would you put on your happiness to-do list?

See you Sunday.

Peace,

Lisa

Photo Credit:
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash