What Brings Joy to the Heart?

Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:

share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.

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Warm sunshine, crisp turning leaves, a cool breeze off of Lake Eerie: the setting was exquisitely autumnal at St. Joseph Parish in Avon Lake, Ohio two Sundays ago. As I joined in singing with the congregation at Mass, the psalm response spoke to me, “The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.” The message lent confidence to the many times the Word of God broke through in subtle and not-so-subtle ways over the course of the week.

I was scheduled to fly home from a 10-day tour last Monday afternoon. But I was so fatigued that I became physically ill on Sunday night before my concert. Thankfully, I was able to sleep in my rental car for a while (since my lodging was an hour from the church), and then catch a second wind by being “on stage” in front of a live audience. Adrenaline—a gift!

The message from my body was coming in loud and clear. It was time to rest! I begged the Lord to show me how to reverence my body with the rest I needed. As I packed up to fly back to the Southwest, I realized maybe there would be a departure the next day.

After some brief research, I was able to use travel vouchers to adjust my flight. I learned I could keep my rental car until the following day at no cost, as well! Plus, my friends graciously consented to host me another night at their home.

As I sat in their sunroom last Monday afternoon, I was surrounded by towering trees outside of the windows. Sunlight streamed through the branches and a brook babbled down a hill nearby. Psalm 23 came to mind.

Upon my return to Arizona the following day, my friend Paige picked me up from the airport. What a comfort to be greeted by a familiar face and to verbally process on the drive home! I rehashed what had been one of my most challenging tours to date: especially with some new unknowns in ministry, I felt short on vision for the future.

As we drove down the highway, Paige described how she had sifted through some prayer cards before she picked me up; she had asked the Lord what He might want to say. Paige explained, “The card I chose said, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.’ So, I’ll just add that for whatever it means in relation to what you’re sharing.”

“I don’t see how that applies at all here, Paige,” I said sarcastically. We both laughed.

There were a lot of other moments that the Lord blessed me with the gift of joy last week though His precepts. But I’ll close with a couple of verses from Psalm 23. Will you join me in asking the Lord, “How does this word apply positively to my life?”

In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul....
You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days. (Psalm 23:2-3, 5-6)

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