"joy's Light Outshines Mere Happiness"

This morning, seeking joy’s light, I selected a prophecy from the minor prophet Habakkuk. Given his prophecies are unfamiliar, a quick overview is in order. Habakkuk lived in Israel’s Southern Kingdom as the countdown clock to the Babylonian invasion and their exile was hitting 0. The Northern Kingdom had already fallen. Happiness was nowhere to be found in Jerusalem given all the misery and injustice. Like us, his is the relatable journey of trying to remain joyful when there is so much evil and tragedy in the world. Having voiced his complaint to God and listening for God’s response – He takes it to heart that God will in time rescue the oppressed. God will defeat evil and bringing down the world’s Pharaohs and Babylons. It’s this insider knowledge of God’s pending promises that enables Habakkuk to conclude God’s prophecy with joy though happiness was hard to come by.

17 Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to go on the heights.

Considering word pairs -- the word Merry can’t help but be connected to Christmas. Merry Christmas! The word MERRY in fact is only tied together to this holiday and no other. By far the majority of others are paired with the word Happy. But far more than a generic greeting - Speaking those words Merry Christmas is in and of itself a blessing upon others – the desire that they may be in high spirits where stress and sadness are kept at bay. Ultimately, that’s what we all long for isn’t it? Not just a few days but a deep-seated, long-lasting merriment that lasts long beyond Christmas long after the decorations are put away and the party leftovers are eaten.

The great contrast though is behind the yards of colored lights and brilliant displays – beyond the Christmas tree all aglow in the window for all the passersby to see – even now people find themselves in darkness and despair. While we go into Christmas expecting happiness, Bob Lepine writes, “many of us find that the season intensifies negative emotions. Whether it is the burden of a seasonal depression triggered by winter’s grey clouds, the loneliness and isolation, or even the grief of having lost a loved one – this spoonful of bitter melancholy is all the harder to swallow in a season marked by happiness.

Happiness is an interesting word when you think about it. When things are going well in our lives, we are happy. Good health, Fine celebrations, seeing people we haven’t seen for some time, watching the smiles appear when you know the present you picked for someone was absolutely the right choice. But when things do not go well, we are suddenly unhappy. A food flop at the table, an illness or storm that forces postponement of the party, the Christmas cutbacks on presents and food because of the higher prices or lack of funds, quickly depletes your happiness. That’s because by its very nature, the emotion happiness is tied to the circumstances around us.

In verse 17, Habakkuk takes note of some rather dire circumstances. They are a metaphor for when the circumstances of life turn sour, and expectations fail.

Like a farmer longing for harvest - there are no buds on the fig tree and no grapes on the vines. The olive crop has failed, and the fields produced no wheat. The pens, normally full of sheep and cattle, are empty. Things are just plain bad with no reason at all for happiness because happiness is contingent on the circumstances.

That can be how it is with us at Christmas – exerting what little energy we have to go through the motions at Christmas – hoping to stimulate some happiness into existence. But we fear it isn’t working. We question ourselves - Is something wrong with us when it seems all around us others are Merry? When this describes where we are at? What’s the solution?

According to Dr. James Boyce, the world responds in three ways -

(1) The first is resignation - There is nothing that can be done about it so I might as well grin and bear it. Resigning is the white surrender flag of stoicism at its best.

(2) The second is detachment – Let’s distance ourselves from our circumstances. Avoid thinking about them by keeping busy with other amusements. Or cope with adding a few drinks and I’ll be just fine.