Casualties of Joy | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Casualties of Joy | Previous Challenge Entry
By william price
05/23/06
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Joy is war.

I can’t seem to get that phrase out of my head. I’m currently stuck in my truck in four feet of
mud, in the middle of nowhere, with a Nextel radio and a dead battery. I’m alone, stranded and
surrendered to the fact I’m going to sink from existence. The sun is setting.

Yet, I still hear, Joy is war.

Sure, I have a sad story, just like millions of other people. Of coarse, they didn’t drive their truck
into a lake of mud, but none the less, a sad tale if told. I’m sure there are others like me, only
stranded in prison or hospital bed, staring out of a window, seeing the same sun set, watching the
brilliant arrays of reds and yellows fade to dark. The end of the day.

Yet, I still hear, Joy is war.

It’s funny when I think about it. I was always the tower of power, there for everybody, through
all tragedy, unfortunate event and uncertain time. A smile, a hug, a kind word, an intercessor in
every time of need. But, I’m out of gas, empty, weary and ready to go to sleep. I’d laugh at
myself for sounding so pitiful, but I don’t have the strength.

Yet, I still hear, Joy is war.

So what do I know about war? With mud up to my window I don’t have much else to think
about. So, if joy is war, then joy is the art of paralyzing the forces of an enemy. With no joy,
victory is no where to be found. My only problem though, is that my brief encounters with joy
were always washed away by the ruthless, continuous pounding waves of past sins too ugly to
mention. Yes, I have repented, but their ghosts remain.

Yet, I still hear, Joy is war.

Forced now to cry out, I pray, “God, show me joy as war. If this is my final lesson, let me see it.”

Now there’s silence, not even a cricket, a frog or whisper of wind.

A smile soon grows. I see
God in Heaven, rejoicing, dancing and spinning. I hear the Word of His prophet proclaim,
“Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your
heart, O daughter Jerusalem. The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has
turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no
further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be
not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice
over you with gladness, and renew you in his love. I will remove disaster from among you,
so that none may recount your disgrace. Yes, at that time I will deal with all who oppress
you; I will save the lame, and assemble the outcasts; I will give them praise and renown in
all the earth, when I bring about their restoration. At that time I will bring you home, and
at that time I will gather you; For I will give you renown and praise, among all the peoples
of the earth, When I bring about your restoration before your very eyes, says the LORD.”

And I see a young King rejoicing in his King. I see God’s joy coming to meet his, crushing
the enemy in between like a vise. He flees, while the two joys become one.
Victory.

“Father, I rejoice now. Even if I am about to breath my last. I rejoice in this vision you have
given. And, even if I am not allowed to share this with anybody else, I praise you that I can
come to meet you with untainted joy. But, I must pray now, Father God, that your joy be
released to your people. To those in prison, in hospitals, starving in dark nations, grieving at
grave yards, to those alone, curled up under their bed covers, hiding from the voices that
taunt them, I pray that they see the joy you have for them, and that the joy you have planted in
them will come forth. And God, thank you for reminding me I have a flashlight in my glove
box, and that I still have time to climb up on the roof of my truck and signal for help, now
that it is dark.”
Joy is war.

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