Shining Faces

“Joy is primarily transmitted through the face (especially the eyes) and secondarily through voice. Joy is relational. It is what we feel when we are with someone who is happy to be with us. Joy does not exist outside of relationship. Joy is important to God and us.” -Jim Wilder

"Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink the sweet wine, and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” -Nehemiah 8:10

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you His peace.” -Numbers 6:24-26

My aunt Marilyn has been in an assisted living home for years now. The woman radiated a calm acceptance and gentle love unlike any person I’ve ever known. Her face always shined on me, even when I was a teenager kicked out of high school for stealing. It’s tremendously sad to watch her struggle with dementia. I remember the first time it hit me that she wasn't okay. Aunt Mari was always up for a game at family functions. Didn’t matter the game, and it didn’t matter who was playing. When I dealt her a hand of cards and she couldn’t organize it, her face was a bit frustrated and she said “I can’t do this.” She walked away from the table, someone else took her place, and a shot of grief ripped through me. She didn't call me Jeremy. She called me "Jer-Bear". As emasculating as that name is, I wish I could hear it again from her, but she hasn’t been able to come up with my name for years now. But her face still shines when she sees me or any other loved one. Joy runs deeper than dementia.

There is deep magic in a shining face. There is nothing like the shining, smiling face of a baby. Nursing homes come alive when shining faces walk into the room. Covid sucked for this reason. A face shining on you has the power to heal your soul, replacing the toxins of fear, anger, and disappointment with the most elusive of emotions: Joy.

Nehemiah 8:10 has always fascinated me. What God seems to be saying is “Eat the best steak you can afford. Don’t skimp on the drinks either. Share it with others. And forget about what is grieving your soul.” And this is what a day “Holy to the Lord” looks like.

And then the truth bomb…”The Joy of the Lord is your strength.”

I’ve experienced too many people that think the reason they feel the way they do is because there is something wrong with how they are praying or reading scripture. They think they “should” go to church more. But most of the time they try such an approach, they inherit guilt and shame instead of joy. They get weakness instead of strength. Too many receive the venomous bites from a brood of vipers dressed in shepherd’s clothing. Few things block joy as effectively as some good old fashioned religious trauma from faces that don't shine on you.

May you find faces that shine on you. And maybe some good steak and some wine while you are at it. The Joy of the Lord is your Strength.