Something a little different - a fictional story for you...
Time: Sometime in the (not so distant?) future
The world has been decimated by a nuclear war – followed by rampant disease and famine. Less than 10% of the world’s population has survived the devastation. Many live underground. Those who live on the surface of the earth exist in an ashy, dirty remnant of a world completely ruined, under a perpetually gray sky.
Setting: A secret laboratory underground
Two scientists, a head researcher and his assistant, are looking through a large, one-way mirror into a manufactured “environment.” This artificial environment is full of artificial trees, and fake grass, pretend wildflowers and computer-generated butterflies. There is a babbling “brook” and overhead is a blue “sky” and white, puffy "clouds." In the middle of this scene is one small, little girl – who is running, and spinning, and laughing, and singing.
The head researcher turns to his assistant and says:
“I wish there was a way to bottle this. We could restore the world…and make a fortune in the process.”
“I know,” replies the assistant.
“What did you say they called it?”
The assistant looks at his notes. “They call it JOH-E.”
“Joy?”
“Yes, I believe that’s how they pronounce it.”
The researcher looks at the little girl intently.
“It resembles happiness.”
“Yes, it does,” answers the assistant. “But of course, happiness was destroyed in the blast.”
“Indeed,” muses the researcher. “Refresh my memory, we’re not developing this because there isn’t enough to go around?”
“Yes,” the assistant says with a sigh. “We’ve only found 20 people in the world who have it, and they’re all under the age of 5.”
“Hmmm…” The researcher is quiet for several moments. “Is that the only reason we’re not manufacturing this JOH-E substance?”
“Actually,” responds the assistant, “there’s one other problem. We don’t know where it comes from.”
“Are we sure it isn’t genetic, viral, or bacterial?“
“Yes, we’ve ruled all that out.”
Just then, the little girl drops to her knees, raises her hands to the sky, and squeals, “I LOVE YOU!”
Several moments of silence pass.
“Fascinating!” exclaims the head researcher.
“Yes,” says the assistant sadly. And under his breath, he mumbles, “I wish it was contagious…”
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR JOY?
"You love him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible JOY." (1 Peter 1:8)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteI love the sci-fi, futuristic perspective of this post. I was reading this same scripture in 1 Peter; though I've never seen Him, I rejoice with a joy that cannot be fully explained.
Blessings and peace.
MTJ
Another whole side to Sharon!!! This one is a sci fi side. Warning! Danger Will Robinson!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a contrast to the poet side.
Either way, I sure like coming here, and I like the story.
I wish that I were truly fiction. Unfortunately, it has a lot of fact to it, doesn't it? I have gone through some seasons (and recently, too) where Satan tried very hard to steal my joy. He tends to be more effective with joy stealing PEOPLE than with joy stealing circumstances.
interesting story, Sharon; insightful to read. In the midst of some very hard times, I was doing the Beth Moore Fruit of the Spirit Bible study through the church we were going to at the time. I remember waking up one night and after going to the bathroom, thinking "my name is written in the Book of Life" and I felt such incredible joy (we had studied joy that week at Bible study). I may temporarily lose my joy but it always comes back and finds me because God is faithful and he has ways to remind me of joy :)
ReplyDeleteenjoy the day :)
betty
MTJ - I just thought I'd try something a little different. The best thing about it was this: I used my trusty concordance to find a verse on joy to finish off this post. This is the verse GOD LED ME TO - and it absolutely thrilled me. EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT SEE HIM, I love Him and I trust Him...and I rejoice!!
ReplyDeleteDebbie - Yes, danger!!! I'm so glad you like coming here and visiting - I feel the same way about going over to your neighborhood.
I'm afraid there is a lot of fact in this story. We had a visiting speaker come to our church this summer - he was great - Karl Claussen. He's written some books. His message was about recapturing that sense of JOY in our walk with the Lord. And he calls Satan, "Thrill Killer." I liked that.
Yes, people are very effective tools...in my life, too. If they only knew the damage they do.
So, my friends...let's keep "Substance JOH-E" alive and well in our souls!! Let's just look at the sky and smile with our whole faces and say, "I LOVE YOU!!"
GOD BLESS!
Betty - looks like we got "crossed in the mail!!" I was posting my reply comments, while you were writing yours. Great minds think alike?!? Oh, I loved your story, Betty. What a magnificent truth to ponder - our names are written in the "Book of LIFE" - that is indeed JOY!!
ReplyDeleteTo tell you the truth, I wrote this post, at least in part, because I was feeling a little down. And so, in the writing, I was reminded that just the fact that God LOVES me, and I LOVE HIM, is something to be JOY-FULL about!!
Hope your day was good, too :)
GOD BLESS!