Zephaniah 3:14-20
Today's passage approaches the definition of joy by describing it as the absence of fear. I did have to think about it for a moment as the stubborn in me kept insisting that a life without fear would be a life lived in peace. However, as I thought about it longer it came to me that a peaceful life can still have moments of being afraid of something, but to truly be emptied of fear, well that's rather joyous.
In our youth group yesterday we spoke about one of my biggest heroes, Nick Vujicic. Nick is my hero for many reasons, but mainly it's because of his joy-filled life I have to say I look to his life as an example for how to live mine.
Nick was born with no limbs; no arms and no legs. At the age of 8, after seriously contemplating suicide, he came to the realization that he was what he was, and that is who he is. He made the decision that day to never let his disability get in the way of his abilities. If you took a look at his life today you would see a man with no limbs do everything from brush his own teeth to play soccer. If you get the chance look him up.
In one of his interviews they show him standing on a diving board which stood maybe 3 or 4 feet above the water. While at the edge of the board he makes jokes like, "I'm the one going out on a limb here." He then get's ready to jump, saying to the camera that to do what he is about to do either means he has no fear of what was coming, or is completely an idiot. Nick jumps, doing a back flip into the water. He raises his body above the waterline, shakes the water from his hair, and with a deeply heartfelt voice lets out the most joyous "WHOOO!" one has ever heard.
Indeed, a life without fear can be a life filled with joy.
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