Testimonies

---

......Do not be greived,
for the joy of the Lord
is your strength...
[Nehemiah 8:11]
**************************
"Lord?"

"Yes, child?"

"I haven't felt much joy, today."

[SILENCE.]

"I'm not really sure WHAT
joy is.......
What IS joy, anyhow?"

"Tell Me, child."

"Hm, it's not really a
word we use much -
at least, not out in the world."

[NOD.]

"It's more, like......
I don't know....
isn't, like,
a CHRISTIAN word?"

"Tell Me, child."

"Well, I don't know.
It's in the Old Testament.
I dunno'.
I think it's
more associated with...
You know:
Christmas, and stuff."

"Tell Me, child."

"I DUNNO', LORD!
Come ON!
I'm in a bad MOOD!
How did I get into
this, anyway?
Maybe, I should
get another bowl
of sherbet."

[PATIENT SILENCE.]
"Tell Me, child."

"Well, eh......You know,
it's about the angels."

"Whose angels, little one?"

"Well.....I guess,
they were YOURS, Lord."

"Ah.
And, what were they doing?"

"Well, they had on these long...
big robes, and these huge,
'Ya know - big WINGS."

"What wings, child."

"What d'Ya mean, Lord?
Of course, they had wings!
It's on all the CARDS!
Oy! That was, like,
the main PART!"

"Ah, I see.
Go on."

"I think some of 'em
had trumpets. And,
the trumpets were,
eh, You know -
made'a gold, and like,
really BIG.
I think some'a the angels
had trumpets, but not
all'a them."

[PATIENT NOD.]
"Tell Me about the
Joy, child."

"Oh, yeah.
I forget: there was this
all this gold light -
and a big star."

[SILENCE.]

"And, they were all singing.
Maybe, that's what joy is, Lord:
that, and the wings.
(silence)
Flying makes me throw-up.
And, I can't sing."

"Sing in your heart, child."

"But, about WHAT?
To be honest, I didn't have
much to sing about, today!"

"Tell Me, child;
Tell Me what the angels
were singing about."

"They were singing about YOU?
Well... the Christians
say it was about the
Baby Jesus.
(silence)
It's not Christmas yet, Lord.
How did I get into THIS
discussion?"

[LAUGH.]
"Tell Me, child!"

"Well, I guess it goes back
to me not feeling
real joyful, today."

[NOD.]

"So, where am I;
back to the angels, again?"

[NOD.]

"I guess, that all brings
me back to You."

"Tell Me, child.
What is your joy?"

"Is it YOU?"

[SILENCE.]

"Lord, I'm Jewish,
and I'm not that smart.
How can You be
Joy, and Jesus, AND Lord?
I'm very confused."

"Seek Me, child.
And, there,
you will find your Joy."
*******************************
...and the Glory of the Lord
shone around them,
and [the shepherds] were
filled with fear.
And the angel said to them,
Be not afraid; for behold,
I bring you good news
of a great joy which
will come to all the people;
for to you is born this day
in the city of David
a Savior....
[Luke 2:9-11]

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE