Jump Start # 1442

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice!”

  The other day I was on my way to my dad’s house to help him do some things. Passing through a small town, I followed an SUV that had been on some dusty roads. The back window was very dirty. Someone had written a message with their finger on the dirty window. Most times, the message is “Wash me.” But this one was different. The hand written message read, “Smile More.” Smile more. I wonder if that was a message intended for the driver or was it for folks like me who happened to be following him. Smile more.

That message written in dirt stuck with me. We don’t smile as much as we probably ought to. I smile when I walk into the church building because I am with people that I love. Smiles and hugs are the norm where I worship. I was preaching in another place this summer and someone told me how refreshing it was to see a preacher smile in the pulpit. I understand that some subjects can be serious and a smile just wouldn’t fit, but we are preaching the good news and it’s hard to share good news with a frown. Being with my kids and grandkids is reason to smile.

Smile more—I expect we don’t do that because we don’t see anything to smile about. There is an ugliness to life that many see more than the blessings. Crime, disease, death, disappointments, broken vows, broken hearts, meanness—that’s all some see. Work is drudgery. Home life is stressful. Church is out of touch. The few moments of laughter and smiles comes from comedy shows on TV, and that doesn’t last long. How sad to live this way. How sad to think that I cannot find anything in a day to bring a smile to my face. Even in dark moments, there are blessings to be seen and things to be thankful for.

Smile more. I sense Paul having a smile on his face when from a Roman prison he told the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord. What a strange twist of events, that the prisoner was telling the free people to rejoice. The man who was facing death was telling those who were full of life, to rejoice. That should tell us that our exterior circumstances do not have to dictate our feelings, moods or even the smile upon our faces. I’ve gone to encourage some who were very, very ill and have left feeling as if they encouraged me more than I encouraged them. Paul could say “rejoice,” not because he wanted the Philippians to have what he didn’t. That’s not it at all. Paul understood that it is who you are, not where you are that is the basis of this great spiritual and eternal joy. Paul was a Christian. No Roman prison, no Roman official, no dark day could take that away from him. He belonged to Christ. He was forgiven, blessed and now walking in the ways of the Lord. Nothing could top that. Nothing could take that away.

Sometimes Christians can look like the most miserable people on earth. Long ago preachers would say that some looked like they were weaned on dill pickles. On top of that sad look upon their faces, many seemed grumpy on the insides. They just didn’t seem to be a happy lot.

In the last Proverb, which describes the virtuous woman, there is an expression that she smiles at the future. Smile more, is how she lived. Most can smile at the past. Get some grown adults together and let them start talking about growing up and the smiles, laughter and stories fly. Open up a photo album and the  smiles come. Many can smile at things today. But to smile at the future, as the virtuous woman did, now that’s something. How can you smile when you don’t know what the future brings? Who is going to win the election? Where is the economy going? What about wars? What about the kids? There is so much to worry about. Don’t you think her world was even worse? Childbirth was a leading cause of death, for both the mother and the infant. Wars were often. Living was more surviving than getting ahead. Medical treatment was primitive. Communication was talking face to face with someone. News was slow and limited. Yet, in her world, she could smile at the future. I expect the reason was because she trusted the Lord.

That’s the key to putting smiles back on our faces, the Lord. Casting all your anxiety upon the Lord, for He cares for you—that ‘s what Peter tells us. Do not be anxious is what the Lord told us. God is upon the throne.

It’s rather hard to convince someone of Jesus when we are frowning at them. The invitation to come to services doesn’t go over well when we have a pained look upon our faces. Smile more. Aren’t you forgiven? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Heaven bound?

Smiles are one of those things that affect others. Imagine smiling during a meeting at work. Co-workers would wonder what’s going on. No one smiles at those long and boring meetings. Imagine walking into your home today with a smile upon your face. Imagine a smile for everyone you meet today. You’ll find many smiling back. That’s the way smiles work. It’s a simple way of spreading a little sunshine to others.

Now we shouldn’t have to say this, but we best. Some smile, but it’s at the wrong things. They smile at the misfortune of others. They smile at bad things. Disciples know and understand that’s not the way to go. Smile, but smile at the good side of life.

Of all place, the back window of a dirty vehicle, spreading a message of joy, smile more.

How about you? Smile more!

Roger