Πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε , ἀδελφοί μου , ὅταν πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλοις
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials
Count 'oH Hoch Quch, wIj loDnI'pu', ghorgh SoH pum Daq various temptations James 1:2
This morning I had to alter my normal bike route. I needed to swing by the ATM as well as drop off an overdue book at the library. So I found myself biking down an unfamiliar street. As I moved through, I spotted a flash of movement - a bird? No, it was a paper airplane. When I looked again, I saw its "pilot," a 7 year old barefoot boy in his pajamas, happily launching his plane into the air again and again.
I can't say why, but that moment just gave me a lift. As I sailed on to work, I thought of him, enjoying a warm summer morning, standing, running and leaping in his front yard to fly on his wings of paper.
The apostle James, in his letter to believers scattered throughout the known world, reminds us
Consider it all joy Count 'oH Hoch Quch
As we've spread farther across Earth, as we spread out into the solar system and beyond, we need to hear those words.
This joy spoken of in the Bible - Xara in the Greek, is cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight - something I think I saw in that boy as he launched out into the morning skies with his airplane. It's what James advises us to find in the midst of lifes trials. Never forget - the Bible is NOT unrealistic. The call to joy isn't blind optimism, but a trusting faith that relies on a loving God to lead us through trouble.
Certainly no Klingon would think that Quch - happiness - was found denying the difficulties of life. But Klingons would NOT let those trials prevent them from finding the Quch, the Joy in life as we do find it.
Whether we speak of JOY, or XARA or QUCH - remember, that calm delight is indeed what God wants you to find. This is what Jesus is promising when he says:
tlhob, je SoH DichDaq Hev, vetlh lIj Quch may taH chenmoHta' teblu'ta'.
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. John 16:24
This summer day, as you have opportunity, kick off your shoes! Run through the grass! Take delight in God's love and the reassurance that he does indeed desire that lIj Quch may taH chenmoHta' teblu'ta' - your joy may be made full.
4 comments:
Since it's 4am as I'm reading this, and it rained during the night - I'll think I'll pass running through the grass right now!! LOL! besides, brother hasn't mowed recently so it's more of a hayfield...but at least the cornflowers are pretty. I like them lots! You could almost say that they give me a little bit of joy in this blechy world! :D
Well, I think that enjoying the flowers is a fine equivalent to running through the grass
I found this blog while searching for sites related to the Klingon language, tlhIngan Hol. I find this blog very interesting. Qapla'
While misunderstood by many, Klingons are indeed a very joyous people.
According to the book The Klingon Way: A Warrior's Guide, the phrase tlhIngan maH, "We are Klingons!" is the strongest expression of joy among Klingons.
From The Klingon Way, page 3:
When Kahless the Unforgettable, who united the Klingon Empire, was cloned years later, the replica retained the ancient Klingon attitudes. He said to Gowron, leader of the Klingon High Council, "You have no joy, Gowron. Is your heart so filled with distrust and suspicion that you have forgotten what it is to be truly Klingon?"
This implies or conveys that being "truly Klingon" is to be joyful as well as triumphant.
Because of how they were portrayed, some people thought of the Klingons as angry and always hostile; but I thought this was inspiring that even Klingons found the importance of value of joy. I try to find and hold on to the joy in life, from the small day to day joys, to the joy of life itself in the "Big Picture".
Thanks for the comments, deyvid!
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