Ho Hums Or Hallelujahs?

Ho Hums or Hallelujahs?

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:15

Jack became a Christian on Sunday. On Wednesday, his wife, Carol, gave birth to a baby girl. Jack, a big, burly guy with a gruff voice and boisterous manner, was thrilled, and he could not wait to tell somebody . . . anybody. So he came to the Wednesday night Bible class at the church, bounded in, and announced to the entire congregation, “It’s a girl!”

There were a few muffled giggles, but everyone basically reacted happily. Then Jack bounced past the minister and carefully hoisted himself up to sit on the Communion table, bringing gasps from the conservative group in the back. But Jack, oblivious to anything beyond his exuberance, proceeded to give a blow-by-blow account of the day’s events.

Meanwhile, our highly dignified, white-shirt, navy-suit minister was turning ashen, not knowing how to stop Jack politely.

Jack hopped off the “holy” table and hurried down the aisles, handing out cigars to the men and candy to the women. The first cigar went to the minister, whose face instantly flushed from ash to scarlet. I collapsed in laughter on the second pew.

Then, as suddenly as he had burst into the room, Jack was gone—back to Carol and Super Baby. He did not stay for Bible study.

When the guffaws and gasps died down, the minister was left with Bible in one hand and cigar in the other. He could not figure out what to say. Finally, with obvious fluster and fumbling, he stuck the cigar in his pocket and mumbled, “I’ll just put this away so no one will smoke it.”

With that, I escaped to the ladies’ room, where I went into hysterics. I’m sure the Lord was laughing too.

Hallelujah happenings do not deserve ho-hum responses. Way to go, Jack! Thanks for loosening our spiritual neckties a bit.

O Father, thank you for the hallelujahs you send us. Help us not to give ho-hum praise in return but to celebrate your joy with you. Amen.