Out Our Way: Joy to the World!

Luke 1:44 - "As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leapt for joy."

Out our way, you get to see great sights on a regular basis - especially if you are one of the lucky ones who gets to see the world from the saddle. Watching the thunderstorm in Canada 60 miles away from atop a ridge while Doc and I catch our breath is one I have shared before. The sight of herds of deer and antelope racing across the prairies in the late afternoon is another; and the rare experience of a mountain lion crossing the trail a few yards in front is a sight you don't soon forget. But some sights are less spectacular and yet every bit as stirring.

I know I have shared this memory with you before, but it really popped into my head as I read my Advent text about how John the Baptiser, while still in the womb, leapt in joy when he heard the voice Mary, pregnant with Jesus. As you know, I don't write these columns so much as try to take dictation and when I read the Advent text, I remembered a stray calf we found lost and alone on the Tiger Ridge. 

He was pretty young as it was early spring, and had somehow gotten separated from the herd. Charlie and I were checking the fence in the higher ridge area when we ran across the little guy. Now the main herd was a few clicks away down in the lower valley area, so this dogie was definitely in trouble, lost and likely to starve if a mountain lion or the coyotes didn't get him. He didn't know who or what we were - probably hadn't seen many cowboys or horses - and no question he was scared of us. Sort of like the shepherds when the angels came to them in the hills of Bethlehem.

I don't speak "calf" so I could not say, "Be not afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy,"  but I understood calf-speak enough to know if we slowly and gently approached he would move in the right direction. So Doc and I moved slowly but constantly towards him and pushed him back towards the herd. He was pretty scared but not yet in panic - so we slowly made our way over the hills and far away towards the main herd and towards "mama."  

Then came the miracle. He had not yet spotted the herd but the wind was blowing away from us and towards the herd, and Mama caught his scent. She let out a bellow, and the little guy just about did a somersault at the sound. I didn't have to push him any more. He started bawling for his mama and she continued bawling for him as he raced and leapt and nearly danced at the sound. His mama was there!

When I read of the infant John, still in his mother's womb, leaping for joy at the sound of Mary, that memory leapt in my soul as well. John heard the voice, not just of Mary, but of God, Who had sent the Savior to the world. John - who would live and die a hermit and a martyr - was also a prophet and a servant of God whose joy had begun before his physical birth, and continued on all the days of his life.

We sing " Joy to the World," but how many of us really get it? How often do we let the darkness overwhelm us and like that lost calf, shivering in sadness, loneliness, and despair on the wind swept ranges of an empty world? I, for one, need reminding. But then God sends us an "angel"  - which in both the Greek and Hebrew means "messenger" - with tidings of comfort and joy. We may, like that calf, not get it - and back away from the ones sent to help us. But they don't quit on us and keep us moving. And then eventually we hear the Voice - and like that calf and John, leap in joy. 

Joy to the world is not just a seasonal hymn. It is a prophecy. You are being moved towards home. You may not get it - you may resist and resent it. But just as Charlie, Doc, and I didn't quit on the calf, God will not quit on you. Whether you understand it or not, whether you are listening or not, God is calling. And sooner or later, you will leap for joy.

Be blessed and be a blessing.

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way." He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].