Pause in Joy

Pause in Joy

Nehemiah 8:9-10

I wonder what would happen if we set aside a day—stopped for a moment —paused to take a few cleansing breaths today to rest in the joy of the Lord? What if we lingered for a while to enjoy the moment, to eat good food, to sip our favorite drink, to take some time to take care of each other?

What if that is the strength we need to get beyond this present moment? To be fulfilled, to be watered, to be nourished and refreshed together? To be buoyed, to be uplifted, to be sustained for the journey ahead? What if we tarried for a little while longer and clung to the words of Qoheleth that there is a time for everything under the sun? 

Nehemiah didn’t say that there wasn’t anything to mourn about. He didn’t say don’t ever mourn or grieve. He didn’t scold them or gaslight them into believing there was not good reason to weep and grieve for many things that they had lost. There was probably much that they heard in the words of the Law that they didn’t see in their community, their world, or within themselves. But that was not the day to mourn or weep. 

There may be some that are in despair with the results of recent elections. Some may be disappointed that life’s circumstances didn’t turn out as you had hoped. Some are disheartened because the world continues to be divided, disparate, despondent, and in seemingly utter disrepair.

There will certainly come a time to mourn for all that we have lost. But that’s not today. What brings you joy today? Pursue it. Cultivate it today. Maybe God is calling us today to pause for a moment of joy and celebration as we remember where our strength really comes from. 

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