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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The Pursuit of Joy

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On a scale of 1 to 10, how optimistic are you about your future? In that great mid-life crisis movie, City Slickers, (a great movie for Father’s Day) Billy Crystal plays Mitch, a confused, dissatisfied character with a vague sense that life is passing him by. It’s during the scene of Mitch’s 40th birthday party that we get a true glimpse into his psyche. He is depressed and worried and it’s draining the joy out of his life.
Mitch and his friends decide to go on a real old fashion, cowboy cattle drive. Jack Palance plays Curly-an ancient, leathery, wise to the ways of the world (“a saddlebag with eyes”) – who during the movie asks Mitch if he would like to know the secret of life.
“It’s this,” Curly says, holding up a single finger.
“The secret of life is your finger?” asks Crystal.
“It’s one thing,” Curly replies. “The secret of life is just one thing. Once you figure out what that one thing is, you will know the meaning of life.”
Somehow this resonates deeply with Billy Crystal’s character. His life is scattered. He is torn between his obligation to his family and his desire for career advancement; between his need for security and his appetite for excitement. His life is about many things, and so, he senses, it is about nothing.
Curly was the unlikely angel that leads Mitch to find the “One Thing!” Mitch’s attitude changes and a smile returns to his face. It’s not about the smile on the outer layer; it’s about the joy that was rediscovered deep inside. The Bible says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).

 
Although I like the “One Thing” theology, I’m not convinced Mitch found it. Nowhere in the film does Crystal’s character call out to God. We Christians know that a joy filled life begins with a passionate, vibrant, relationship with Jesus. Once you have that, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit and that brings 9 fruits of the spirit into our lives. (Galatians 5:22) And catch this; one of those fruits is Joy. If you have Jesus, this fruit is already in your life. You don’t need a mid-life crisis cattle drive to discover Joy again. You just need to rediscover the Joy that comes with living your life with Jesus.

[Ron Otto, Lincoln Christian Church]

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