Tip of My Iceberg

Palisade, Colorado is home to some of the best peaches in the country and the Peach Festival, a delightful time of celebrating this luscious summer fruit. When Courtney, Michael, and Beck traveled there for a long weekend, it was filled with cousin fun, birthday enjoyment, and a parade.

Beck always loves hanging with his cousin and grandparents–those relationships are magical. But add a parade in, and it’s raised to the ethereal world of wonder.

There was foam sprayed into the street. There was a giant big-as-a-child peach to pose with, hug, or just enjoy. Fire trucks and candy being thrown.

And, of course, peaches. Lots and lots of peaches.

Unmitigated joy was Beck’s as he played with family, enjoyed the spectacle of the parade, and ate peaches to his heart’s content.

Not massive experiences nor huge expenditures of money, like a theme park or an expensive toy. The joy of the moment was being with those he loved and participating in the small things that brought smiles to everyone’s face.

Too often we act like the only thing that will bring us incredible joy are those huge gestures that require an investment of time and treasure. If less is good, more is better.

That’s not how it works.

C. S. Lewis commented, “The very nature of joy makes nonsense of our common distinction between having and wanting.”

Human nature always wants more. We too frequently view what we have as insufficient.

When the apostle Paul wrote his letter to the church in Rome sometime between 57-58 A.D., his purpose was to help them understand who Jesus was and why He came. The Romans had a plethora of gods, so to put forth the idea of one God was a big deal.

But he also sought to encourage them in their new-found faith.

“I pray that God, the source of HOPE, will fill you completely with JOY and PEACE BECAUSE you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

We’re all searching for joy, consistent and gratifying joy. The kind of gladness not based on circumstances or how we’re doing personally. Jesus offered confident hope that would overflow our lives with joy as we trust Him.

God, however, never forces us to love Him. C.S. Lewis stated:

“If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them (Adam and Eve) free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the ONLY thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.”

Beck and his parents were free to enjoy the peach festival and parade, not because anyone made them go but because they made the choice to attend. They enjoyed it.

What are you freely choosing for your life?