Rejoicing with those who rejoice

 Dear Friends

After more than a year of “weeping with those who weep” due to the devastation the pandemic brought (and is still bringing) to so many families and friends of victims, it is nice to have a chance to “rejoice with those who rejoice”, the other part of the admonition from Paul’s letter to the Romans (12:15).

I am referring to the Olympics and specifically the “watch parties” of family and friends watching thousands of miles away as their loved ones glorify God with their different bodies in so many, different ways. I don’t know any of the athletes personally, but I feel like part of their families as I see the real time reactions side by side as each event concludes. It is also so heartwarming to see athletes, who have just fiercely competed against each other, embrace after their events with mutual admiration and respect.

There are many reasons and times to weep with those who weep---think of the condo collapse in Florida last month, or the Capitol officers’ wrenching testimony before the January 6^th select committee last week. But we need to spend as much, if not more time, rejoicing with those who rejoice.

Emotions which cause us to weep and rejoice with perfect strangers remind us of how closely we are connected with humanity...more than we know.

May God keep bringing us opportunities to “rejoice with those who rejoice”!

John

P.S. This watch party picture is from 17 year old surprise winner Lydia Jacoby's high school in Seward, Alaska. Some of those jumps for joy could have qualified her peers for the high jump!