Home Tools for your Journey July 4

Friday, July 4

A merry heart does good like a medicine.
—Proverbs 17:22

When we are weighed down by heavy cinderblocks of sadness or depression or overwork, or laid low by unrealistic demands and expectations, it seems like our very life is sick. We want to put our life into bed and do what we can to lower its fever and restore it to health. While we are plotting how to give our life a needed break, someone with a merry heart crosses our path, and for the moments we are in their presence, we forget the sickness of our life and feel as if we have been whisked away on angels' wings.

More than just a delicious respite from our weary lives, we are invited to taste the power of gladness. We begin to see that there is the possibility that our own hearts will be merry if we will but trust that heaven has more in store for us than the current confinement that has surrounded us.

In other words, the sickness of our lives is not permanent. It is what it is right now, but it is not the end of the story.

As we claim that truth for ourselves, we will begin to see our heart lighten, and gladness will touch us like a breeze. We'll hardly even notice, but the fever of our lives will break and health will begin to wash over us.

O God, help me feel the realm of eternity wrapping its arms around me and healing me of my dis-ease.

The Signposts for July are written by Renée Miller and originally appeared on explorefaith.org in 2004.