So, what could be worse for an Easter Egg hunt than 6 inches of snow – during the event? Well, apparently lots of things. Normally, I would assume that a bunch of snow could put a damper on such an event. But this year I saw something quite different than what I expected. My guess is that a lot of people did and that made all the difference.
I saw the forecast earlier in the week. It was supposed to be the coldest day of the week with a chance of snow. By Thursday afternoon, they were calling for a possible 1 to 3 inches on Friday. Looks like were gonna get a little snow. By Friday noon, we’d gotten an inch or two and it looked like it was done. Yeah, uh-huh.
About an hour before I was supposed to be there, it picked up again. Not flurries, but real snow – in late March – on the night of “our” egg hunt. Something was different about this time though. I wasn’t real bummed out. I would like to think it’s not because it wasn’t “my” event.
When I got to the pavilion, I saw something I hadn’t expected. No one was complaining. At least not anyone I heard. It was almost funny like some bizarre irony. The God for whom we are doing this thing is sending this freak snow storm for an Easter egg hunt. It was great.
As I watched the whole thing unfold, the depth of the irony made me think. What is really going on here? No, I’m not talking about a snow storm or an egg hunt, I’m talking about what is really going on below the surface? As I retreated into my own mind beneath a hat and a hood and lots of layers, I saw some things I wasn’t expecting as the weather began to deteriorate…or improve?/.
I saw genuine joy. Joy can’t be bought, can’t be faked, can’t be contrived. Joy isn’t the smile on the face or the laughter in the conversation. Joy is the source of it. It wells up from the inside and it is contagious. Faith is the only possible source of true joy. There was a common understanding among the people who were there that there is a good God in control of this whole thing. If snow is what He wants, than snow is what we will be grateful for – and we will see and enjoy Him in the snow; a sort of “I would rather be with Jesus in a snowstorm than with a bunch of plastic eggs on a sunny day without Him”.
I didn’t see anyone wishing they were somewhere else or even that the conditions were different. I hope the people who came saw what I saw. I think they did.
I think joy is the most powerful message we may ever preach. Strangely, (or maybe not) most people are more interested in the hope of joy in this life than they are in an eternity in heaven. Maybe that’s because they have a hard time believing that heaven is going to be that great if it’s residents cannot experience joy here. I’m just glad the God who calls us His own promises abundant life here, and icing on that cake after the “here” is over. Wow, we do have a great message for the World don’t we.
One more thing. As the “youth guy”, I’m also glad we didn’t even think of canceling. Our young (and old) people saw a critical value at work that night; one that is hard to find today. When you are truly doing something for someone else, you don’t close up shop when the results you were hoping for seem lost. Life often doesn’t go the way we were hoping it would. But, if we truly believe we are living this life of ours for Him, then we don’t expect it to go our way. Those who get that will understand the joy that comes from living for something and someone far above ourselves. I’m still working on that one. Some may call it faithfulness. Some will call it stupid, and that’s o.k. What God thinks is all that really matters.
I want to thank my new Crossroads family. You inspired me last week. This feels more like home each day. I’m looking forward…
