"So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the Lord your God… All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt." Leviticus 23:39-43
I've recently started on a purging spree following the cleaning methods of Marie Kondo's book, "The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up." It can be far-reaching for some as parts of it seem like some sort of eastern esotericism. She recommends holding each household item and feeling if it sparks joy, and as you sort each thing (whether keeping or disposing) you thank it for all it has done. I like to thank God for each piece I hold as he is the giver of all blessings. I have actually brought something away from this practice so far besides learning good cleaning habits: renewed gratitude and worship in the mundane.
You see, at first, it was a little funny to imagine a plain pair of socks or a t-shirt sparking joy. Then, as I went from item to item I realized that I was holding something more important than "things." My socks kept my feet warm in the winter and wicked away sweat in the summer. My t-shirt with the funny saying made me smile every time I saw it. I began to look around me and see the many ways my house and all the small, sometimes annoying things (dang keys losing themselves everyday), actually brought me comfort and peace. A broom may not be pretty, but it keeps the floors clean so my child can pretend to be a puppy and fill our home with laughter. A spoon may be simple but accompanies delicious nourishment and family times. If something no longer serves its purpose, it is to be either trashed (if it's no longer usable) or donated so it can go on sparking joy for others.
Fun fact: The word "gospel" comes directly from Old English translations of the Bible, meaning "godspel." Godspel was two words smashed together: god/good + spel/message, itself a translation of the Greek "Euangelion," which means "good news." The gospel, as with any good news, brings with it an aura of joy for all that God has given to us, as undeserving as we are.
Let's be clear on something: Joy does not equal happiness. Some Christians feel guilt over depression or the blues, thinking that they are supposed to be happy all the time. Even God isn't happy all the time. There is a good deal of pain and evil in the world. Your tears are surely a reflection of His in that. Joy in God and His promises can exist at the same time as anger, sadness, even fear.
The Jewish holiday of Sukkot, aka the Feast of the Tabernacles, exists as a reminder of this joy. God is the only permanent in a temporary world. Jews set up shacks made of flimsy materials to symbolize the nomadic Israelites during their escape from an evil pharaoh and life. Although life can be inconsistent and as stable as a stormy sea, then and now, the communion between fellow believers, the family of God, and the gratitude for all our blessings that exists in Sukkot was a reminder for how we should live our lives in God's solid presence. We live in joy and thanksgiving on the Rock.
Does this holiday sound familiar? Many pilgrims, before travelling over to the Americas, lived among the Sephardic Jews in Holland. They picked up some of their traditions, as joy is pretty contagious, and brought it over the New World. We now call this day Thanksgiving. Besides the obvious gathering around a table bursting with food and gratitude, you may notice a similarity between other things like the cornucopia, the symbol of plenty. It's shaped like the Jewish shofar, the horn traditional Jews blow to bring in holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which precedes Sukkot.
As we come upon Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for? What can you do daily to acknowledge your blessings? Remember, it doesn't have to be large, and it could be hidden in your everyday life in something as mundane as a broom.
It may just change your life.
Happy Thanksgiving, and may you be filled with joy this holiday season!
Sources other than Bible:
https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/sukkot-the-harvest-holiday/
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Godspel
