Olive Crest United Methodist Church
7180 North 60th Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68152

Our Pastor

Rev. Debra Tompsett-Welch

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The Spiritual Life

February 2000

Surprised by Joy In the Little Things,The Spirit of God in ordinary life.

By Rev. Michael Lee Burgess

Many, many years ago, when I was in High School in York Nebraska I read a book by C. S. Lewis called "Surprised By Joy". Lewis has always been a special friend of mine, and his title has stuck with me. I was surprised by joy this month. I was driving along Interstate 680 and suddenly thought how lucky I was to be in a city where it is so easy to get things. My sister lives in Leesburg Virginia, and if you want something from the store you have to be ready to spend a couple of hours getting it. If you want something from two different stores, then the day is shot. Everything is so spread out and specialized, you "just can't get there from here". My sister has even had mom get things back here and ship them to her. I am really lucky to live here.

My life has been touched so many times this month. Steve was helping me put siding on Mom and Dad's Fixer-upper and it was fun. I have a wonderful new hobby, it is a childhood dream come true.

Kurt and I were taking out the trash, and I was not doing it alone. It was so very good to have help.

I was singing in the choir and I realized how lucky I am to be able to sing with supportive people. I remember when I was terrified to sing until the church encouraged me. Now that gift is being shared with others and I can see their lives flowering.

Finally I understand the difference between happiness and joy. Taking out trash is not really a "happy" time, but that night I felt the deep joy of acceptance, love and support, even when cleaning the cat pan. It was no longer hard. I didn't mind doing it.

What a strange thing, but there is a peace in joy that helps you get things done. It pushes away insecurity and fear. I believe the Joy comes from the presence of God in our great big extended church family. At our last Church Council meeting, people stood around and talked for over 15 minutes after it was over. No one wanted to go home yet. At our last Staff Parish Relations meeting we had such a supportive time they asked Harry if we could meet again next month. Ii>(I don't ever remember that happening before in any church). Joy comes when you feel the Spirit of God up close. It manifests itself in different ways, but one of them is this spirit of acceptance and support. I am feeling it and it brings me joy.

We need joy in our life, because our lives are not always going to be happy. It is such a small step from contentment to fear. The habits of mind and place are so fragile and so easily broken. Then the fear is back and pain is everywhere. I was in a store and the clerk told me about his brother's girlfriend breaking up with him because he had "no direction in life". I spent and hour and ½ sharing with him. A visitor to our church family told me that yesterday his fiancée broke up with him and asked for prayer. Ida Wigstone went into the Hospital and caught a secondary infection there that put her in isolation, but she said she was "lifted up by our prayers". She knew the difference between happiness and joy. You can hurt and feeling the draining weakness of pain and fear, while still feeling the love and eternal strength of the Joy that give you a triumphant spirit.

A crisis in my life left me feeling like a continent just before a major earthquake. The stresses felt like they wanted to tear me apart, but the joy is still here and the pressure is easing. All it takes is remembering the love, and the fear is gone. All I have to do is look around. After a year of being hounded about it, I let a syndicate of people take me out to the Burlington Coat factory and buy a new Suit (it had to be on sale or I wouldn't do it, but it was much cheaper than I expected). What a persistent effort to show me that I am loved.

What could I have ever done to deserve such an act? That is a surprising part about Joy, it says more about the giver than the one who receives. I didn't do anything worthy of such a gift, the people just had hearts that overflow with joy and I was near. When the unearned Grace of God flows into your life, all you can do in respond to it, and try to be worthy of it by sharing it with someone else.

So in the name of our great God, creator of the Stars at night and first bird song of morning, I love you and am grateful that you are alive. Thank you for being part of my family.

Your brother-in-Christ, Reverend Michael Lee Burgess

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