JOY in the Middle...

   I was thinking about "contagious joy" this morning...reading Acts 2. Then I read the online news:
   ...American hostages of Somali pirates were murdered
   ...Severe earthquake in New Zealand with many deaths
   ...Violence all over the Middle East, with the dead littering the streets of many cities
   And so much more --- it causes my heart to cry out: "Lord, please show up in our world in a powerful way, and save us from ourselves, our fears, our violence, our hatred, injustice, abuse, and destruction."
   This is life in the tension...somehow, finding JOY in the middle of the chaos in our world and lives. Some would say, "how can we...SHOULD we find joy while there is so much suffering everywhere?"
   The peace and joy promised by Jesus are not separate from life. They are promised for living in the middle of strife. It is possible to feel sorrow and joy, deep concern and inexplicable trust at the same time.
    Keep us, Lord, right here in the middle...