Be happy

Today: Proverbs 13-15

Today's passage was filled with zillions more two-liners (see yesterday's discussion). I could have easily written many pages about each one. Instead, I'm choosing something simple:

A miserable heart means a miserable life;

a cheerful heart fills the day with song.

This nugget of truth is small. It seems like...well, common sense. How many of us have heard the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy"? Or watched a Disney movie with an extra chipper character?

But by the same token, how many of us have met Christians--God's people--who looked like they just sucked gallons of lemon juice? Have you ever met a Christian who reminded you of Debbie Downer? I have.

There are people who would argue, "The world has some serious problems! It's not realistic for Christians to be Little Miss/Mr. Sunshine." I agree that there are serious problems in our world. But of anyone on this planet, I think Christians should be the most happy and hope-filled. I'm not saying that we shouldn't recognize problems--on the contrary, I believe we should see problems, but view them from a standpoint of God's reality. God obviously knows about all the good and bad things that are happening on this planet--but He can always do something great in and/or through any situation. That's something to cheer about.

The Imagineer

(Originally written November 13)


Today: Revelation 20-22

I’m going to Disney World!

Well, actually I went earlier today. For the first time ever, I went to Hollywood Studios in Florida. Every Disney park has this incredible sense of…magic. When you enter, you automatically find a fountain of youth—you turn in to a kid again. You walk in wonder as you look at the rides, the palm trees, the scenery, the dancing Christmas lights. You hum along to your favorite Disney songs. And you don’t really care that you’re surrounded by strangers. You don’t think about work. You don’t think about any of the challenges you’re facing in the real world. This is Disney—and it’s magical.


As fun and amazing as Disney parks are, they don’t even come close to what heaven is like. For starters, you and I eventually have to leave Disney parks and go back to our work, back to our challenges. And the Disney experience (while amazing!) isn’t totally perfect. Sometimes there are lines and crying babies and your feet get sore. That kind of stuff doesn’t happen in heaven because heaven was designed by the ultimate Imagineer.


I was reminded of this today when after returning to my hotel from Disney World, I learned of an acquaintance who passed away from Lou Gehrig’s disease. As I read today’s passage, I thought about him.

"Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood,

making his home with men and women!

They're his people, he's their God.

He'll wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death is gone for good—

tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—

all the first order of things gone."

For the past few years, the man I knew was confined to a wheelchair. Now, he’s standing (Or maybe dancing? Skipping? Flying?) through golden streets in the Happiest Place That No One on Earth Could Even Imagine. That’s pretty cool!

God is the ultimate Imagineer—the Creator who transcends our imaginations. Think about the incredible creativity and dreams of Walt Disney: What do you think God Himself could do?