It started with a science project thinly veiled as art one Friday afternoon. The directions said to extract the starch from potatoes, which we attempted to do. However, after the extraction, all the potatoes remained. It seemed a terrible waste to throw them away.
Then one of the fifth grade girls had a great idea. "We should make hash browns!" she suggested. The others caught on quickly.
"Can we?" they asked.
"Sure!" I said. I was still helping a few of the boys with the project and would be in the kitchen to keep an eye on proceedings. The girls were of the fairly responsible and careful sort. What could possibly go wrong? Besides, it was bound to be good for them to experiment.
They rummaged for a frying pan and oil, discussed whether they needed anything besides salt, and pondered on how much of everything should go in at once.
The last clear thing I remember hearing was something about needing more liquid and maybe they should add water. This comment was followed by a blast of white steam, then the outlandish shrieking of the fire alarm. The girls froze. Or at least I did for a second. Maybe they whipped the pan off the burner, maybe they didn't. I certainly can't remember. In an instant the homey scene had become chaotic.
We were yelling above the din. I didn't know how to turn off the wretched alarm, so I sent one of the boys to get the upper grade teacher. The student found him already on his way in, having heard the alarm out on the softball diamond. Thankfully, he soon quieted the awful racket. Blessed peace descended upon our group.
We laughed afterwards. I'm fairly certain all of us still remember the occasion, although the project itself and the hash browns may have faded in our memories. My class of that year and I now hold the somewhat dubious distinction of being the group that set off a fire alarm during art.
There are so many different directions this story could have gone. The girls could have been frightened and burst into tears. I could have scolded them. Some of the students could have panicked and done something foolish. We could all look back at the occasion as an embarrassment to be forgotten. Maybe some of the students do feel some of those things, I'm not sure. But I actually appreciate the fact that we get to share a unique memory and that we can laugh about it together.
That's what's on my mind today. Laughter. Visible happiness. Joy. There are so many sad and lonely situations, so many discouraging stories that we pass from person to person. What kind of ramifications do these worries and bad news have on our Christian Joy?
I believe we are to exhibit our joy. Not in a giddy, foolish way, but in a peaceful, happy countenance. I am impressed every time I go to town by the amount of people with a sad, lonely, haunted look in their eyes. The beauty of the brotherhood at church on Sunday with a calm peace shining through is truly a miracle in contrast!
Psalms 126:2 says Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. Isn't that an amazing thought? It is through our joy that we can witness to those around us. Even those who do not know our Jesus will be able to see His hand in our lives.
I'm not trying to say we should never be sad. That is purely unrealistic. But I do believe we ought to place more emphasis on joy and that we need to make a practice of finding the things that make us smile in every day. We need to look for the places where we can laugh and let go instead of feeding a fear or worry.
What gives us that ability? It seems that the secret lies in trusting. My students and I were never really worried when the smoke alarm went off. Sure, we yelled and covered our ears and made sure the pan was removed from the burner, but we knew we were in no mortal danger. Although the smoke alarm was loud and painful to the ears, we knew there was no flame and that things were more or less under control.
When we can give that kind of confidence to God, our outlook on life automatically changes. Instead of depressing and scary news, we start to remember that we need to leave things to Him. We need to trust that He has it all under control. With this assurance and faith in Him, we are able to be peaceful. Our hearts become joyful. Burdens may sometimes yet weary us, but still there is a quietness, a joy that shines out from every heart, because we know our mighty God holds all within His hand.
Then one of the fifth grade girls had a great idea. "We should make hash browns!" she suggested. The others caught on quickly.
"Can we?" they asked.
"Sure!" I said. I was still helping a few of the boys with the project and would be in the kitchen to keep an eye on proceedings. The girls were of the fairly responsible and careful sort. What could possibly go wrong? Besides, it was bound to be good for them to experiment.
They rummaged for a frying pan and oil, discussed whether they needed anything besides salt, and pondered on how much of everything should go in at once.
The last clear thing I remember hearing was something about needing more liquid and maybe they should add water. This comment was followed by a blast of white steam, then the outlandish shrieking of the fire alarm. The girls froze. Or at least I did for a second. Maybe they whipped the pan off the burner, maybe they didn't. I certainly can't remember. In an instant the homey scene had become chaotic.
We were yelling above the din. I didn't know how to turn off the wretched alarm, so I sent one of the boys to get the upper grade teacher. The student found him already on his way in, having heard the alarm out on the softball diamond. Thankfully, he soon quieted the awful racket. Blessed peace descended upon our group.
We laughed afterwards. I'm fairly certain all of us still remember the occasion, although the project itself and the hash browns may have faded in our memories. My class of that year and I now hold the somewhat dubious distinction of being the group that set off a fire alarm during art.
There are so many different directions this story could have gone. The girls could have been frightened and burst into tears. I could have scolded them. Some of the students could have panicked and done something foolish. We could all look back at the occasion as an embarrassment to be forgotten. Maybe some of the students do feel some of those things, I'm not sure. But I actually appreciate the fact that we get to share a unique memory and that we can laugh about it together.
That's what's on my mind today. Laughter. Visible happiness. Joy. There are so many sad and lonely situations, so many discouraging stories that we pass from person to person. What kind of ramifications do these worries and bad news have on our Christian Joy?
I believe we are to exhibit our joy. Not in a giddy, foolish way, but in a peaceful, happy countenance. I am impressed every time I go to town by the amount of people with a sad, lonely, haunted look in their eyes. The beauty of the brotherhood at church on Sunday with a calm peace shining through is truly a miracle in contrast!
Psalms 126:2 says Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. Isn't that an amazing thought? It is through our joy that we can witness to those around us. Even those who do not know our Jesus will be able to see His hand in our lives.
I'm not trying to say we should never be sad. That is purely unrealistic. But I do believe we ought to place more emphasis on joy and that we need to make a practice of finding the things that make us smile in every day. We need to look for the places where we can laugh and let go instead of feeding a fear or worry.
What gives us that ability? It seems that the secret lies in trusting. My students and I were never really worried when the smoke alarm went off. Sure, we yelled and covered our ears and made sure the pan was removed from the burner, but we knew we were in no mortal danger. Although the smoke alarm was loud and painful to the ears, we knew there was no flame and that things were more or less under control.
When we can give that kind of confidence to God, our outlook on life automatically changes. Instead of depressing and scary news, we start to remember that we need to leave things to Him. We need to trust that He has it all under control. With this assurance and faith in Him, we are able to be peaceful. Our hearts become joyful. Burdens may sometimes yet weary us, but still there is a quietness, a joy that shines out from every heart, because we know our mighty God holds all within His hand.
Wishing each one of you a joyful day!
More verses on laughter and joy:
Proverbs 17:22, Job 8:21, Proverbs 15:13, Psalms 32:11, Psalms 16:8-11, Psalms 4:7, Philippians 4:4
Spontaneous laughter. Is there anything better? ✨
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