In the Public Place

Today I went to the Diamondbacks baseball game with several Residents from my nursing home. Believe it or not, they were engaged in the surroundings and seemed to have a very happy time. And, thankfully, the Diamondbacks won! It was an exciting game of action with a score of 8-5. They had varied reactions to the plays, but for the most part got involved in the clapping and cheering of the crowd.

What caught my attention were the people who just sat there. Perhaps they were rooting for the opposing team, but still...to just sit there when such action is occuring all around, seemed strange to me. I watch them as the mascot danced in front of them. Still no reaction. I observed as the cameras rolled around and displayed their face on the big screen. Still, no reaction. They did look at each other and shrug their shoulders, but that was about it. The temperature was pleasant. The place was not overly crowded, since it was a week-day, mid-day game. There was plenty of room to manuever through the seats without causing a traffic jam or getting stepped on. And both teams were playing well. Yet, they sat still and basically unresponsive. I had to wonder why they paid money (I assume they did) for tickets to a game they found so boring.

And then I thought about my responses to God. There have been times when I sat acting bored while He was moving all around me. There have been times when I sat nearly stone-faced during a worship service, thinking about things that had nothing to do with worship. And then, there have been times when no amount of "cheer-leading" could get me to lay aside my worries and focus on God. Perhaps I appeared strange to Him at those moments. I know He knows my heart, and my thoughts, and that He loves me unconditionally. But still...

I get excited when a baseball player hits a home-run, or makes a fantasitic catch! I jump up and down and clap and yell. I respond to whatever the flashing lights on the electronic banner say to do. "Make some noise! Louder!" "Clap your hands."
And I join in when someone initiates a "wave" or starts some action that spreads throughout the stadium. But sometimes,in church...

Well, we are supposed to be reserved and reverent in church, aren't we? Of course, we are to be reverent! But to study the Bible, especially in its original languages, one must take a hard look at the character of God. He put words in there that don't mean sit still...(Oh, that's in there too...just not the only one). Take the word, "Halal"...That actually carries the connotation of hilarity...and it is a word translated "praise". It means "have a party!" Parties are not quiet. There are lots of other words translated "cheerful" and "joyful" that have that same underlying meaning.

So, why do I shy away from public expression of my love for God at times? Why do I allow distractions to side-line my worship experience? How can I sit still in the midst of the move of God and not respond to His presence. God is exciting! He is worthy to be praised! He inhabits the praises of His people! God will lead me (and you too) into the quiet places and intimately quiet times. But He also invites into the party times, the times of rejoicing. And there is power in those times!

This is a lesson He taught me: When my son was a baby, he one day experienced a very high fever. We had done everything the doctor said to do. Given him everything the doctor recommended. Still, it would not break. He was limp, listless, and I was very worried, and contemplating an expensive trip to the ER.

I called for prayer and then went to prayer myself. During the quiet time of prayer, I saw a picture in my mind. It was of a wall with a door in it. On one side of the wall was healing, blessing, etc. and I was on the other side with my sick baby and all my worries. In my mind I ran to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked. I scrambled for keys and found one marked "Faith".

"Ah-ha!" I thought! Now I can get to the blessings! And, sure enough, when I used the key of faith, the door unlocked. But it did not open. I reached to open it and found that I was not strong enough to turn the knob, much less push open the door. And I began to cry. And then, a thought, so clearly the voice of God, said "What would you do if you checked on your son and he was completely well, right now?"

"I would jump for joy and shout praises to God!" I said that aloud.

"Then why don't you do that now? If you can praise Me as much when the answer is not evident, as you would if it were obvious, then you will have the strength to open the door because praising Me brings joy and the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Wow! What a lesson. My son began to get better shortly after that little prayer session. His fever finally broke and he slept peacefully again. God may have used the medicine to reduce the fever, I don't know. But I do know that I learned to praise God loudly and excitedly. And now, I can express my love in many ways, including animatedly and excitedly. And I can shout for a baseball team, and allow my emotions to flourish in any setting...

Now...how about "them" D'backs?