Valley of Joy

One day while I was taking a leisurely walk down a sunny country lane, I was surprised to see on the road ahead of me a group of solemn looking strangers. They were marching in columns, almost like a marching army, though they were not attired in military clothes. They were dressed in formal suits and ties, which seemed out of place here on this simple country road.
     As they came closer, I noticed that the two men in the front were carrying a large, square box. It was white, though soiled, I suppose from being dropped. Its lid was on, but it jiggled loosely as its seals were broken.
     “Good day,” I said as the men approached. “That’s an awesome box,” I added. My curiosity couldn’t be contained. “Where are you going with it and what’s it for?” I inquired.
     They all looked at me with the same expression – pained irritation. One of the men in the front answered. I expected him to be rude, but he wasn’t, just formal.
     “We are searching for God,” he stated. “Someone has let him out of this box and we must find Him and put Him back. This is our mission.” The others nodded in unison.
     His answer startled me. “Why do you want to put God back in that box? It doesn’t look to me that He’d be all that happy in there.”
     The men looked uncomfortable. I’ve always been the type of person that people would sort of open up to, especially when they are burdened. I saw the misery that clouded their eyes like a coming storm.
     “We must make God return to the place where He belongs,” I was told. “Right now He’s bounding all over the countryside. People are getting excited. Children are laughing again. He’s absolutely out of control. This joy He’s bringing is contagious, it’s like a plague. The people are flocking to it. None of them are taking the time to think about the consequences. No one can come bounding up to God without some sort of assistance. He’s doing this all on His own and it’s got to stop!”
     It was hard for me to believe what I was hearing. “I thought revival was a good thing,” I murmured. “I don’t understand why you’re all so upset.”
     As I mentioned before, I am the type of person that people open up to. The man looked at me, and when he spoke his voice was a bit petulant.
     “He’s doing this without us,” he said. He hesitated a moment before he added, “And we’re hurt.” The man looked at the box sadly. “We thought He was in there the whole time. We thought that’s where He’d stay. We never expected Him to just break out like that. And it happened so fast, just like that!” (The man snapped his fingers). “One moment He was there, then we heard the tapes snap, the lid flew open and He was beyond our grasp! The next thing we knew He was out there making everyone happy. That’s what I’d like to know. Why is everyone so happy, when we’re not?”
     “Because, you had Him in that box,” I said. He looked at me as if he didn’t understand. “I know what’s bothering you all,” I continued gently. “You’re feeling left out. God is out there having a good time getting to know His people, and you think He’s left you behind. I understand.”
     “You do?” he answered.
     “And I know exactly how I can help you.”
     “How?”
     I could tell at that point the box was getting heavy. “First of all, “ I said, “just set the box down for awhile and leave it here for a bit.”
     They hesitated, but finally did as I requested and the box was lowered to the ground. Its bearers were relieved, I could tell. “Now come with me, and I’ll take you to the place where I saw God last.”
     “You’ve seen Him?” The men were astonished.
     “Well, not visually,” I told them. “I felt Him there. He was all over the place. C’mon, we’d better hurry!”
     I quickly turned to avoid any further questions. I hoped they all would have the faith to follow me. I didn’t have to look back to find out. I could hear the sound of precision marching behind my hurried footsteps. I led them up a hill. It was a steep, grassy hill. I could hear some of them huffing and puffing behind me as they reached the crest. “This is good for you, believe me, “ I called over my shoulder. Then I turned and pointed out over the little valley below. “He was just here,” I told them.
     The men followed my gaze down to the meadow. The valley was filled with playing children. It was a scene of unbridled joy. I looked at the man who had been speaking with me. He watched the children with such a yearning in his eyes. His hands were clasped into two tight little knots. I could sense the tension in his body. Then to my surprise the man whispered, “They all look so happy, so free. Why can’t I....”
     Then he stopped suddenly as if he didn’t want to reveal anything more.
     “I understand,” I answered. “And it’s okay, it really is. Look down there.” I gestured to a row of benches that were lining the perimeter of the field. The benches were filled with older people. All of them had the same yearning in their eyes.
     Then one of them, an elderly gentleman with a walking stick, suddenly stood up and slowly began to move toward the children. As he came closer, one of the little ones threw him a bright, yellow ball. It caught the old man off guard, and in sort of a reflex action, the old gentleman dropped his cane to catch the ball. He caught it deftly, and surprise lit up all over his face when he realized he didn’t fall when he dropped his cane. He let out a holler, a bright, round yahoo! – and the next thing we knew this old codger was out there in the field running and playing with the children. Then one by one the other grown-ups began to get up and join the children. Soon there was a lot of whooping and hollering going on. Then a warm, sunny glow began to embrace the meadow.
     “Jesus is coming back,” I said. “And it’s okay. He hasn’t left you out. He wants you to enter into His joy. You just have to go down there without the box for once, that’s all.”
     The man looked at me strangely. “Without the box?”
     “Leave it on the road for a while.” ( I didn’t tell him that the trash collectors were due that day, and they would never stand to leave a big, old empty box all by itself alone on the road ). “Go on,” I pleaded.” Go down there and have some fun. You’ll feel His Presence immediately, I promise. You won’t feel left out anymore.”
     I could tell they were feeling uncomfortable. There they were in their marching suits and shiny, polished shoes. I knew they felt out of place in all that formal clothing.
     “Nobody cares how you look,” I said. “There’s a lot of love in that valley. They’ll accept you all just as you are, no foolin’.”
     The men looked at me as if they were wondering if it could be possible that just this once they could enter into some kind of spontaneous response to all that bubbling joy in the meadow below them. A few of them began to inch their way toward the valley like cautious snails.
     Then it happened. They heard the ominous sound of the garbage truck rumbling down the road behind us. I was hoping I could get those poor men down into the valley before they heard it, but alas, it was too late!
     “A garbage truck!” one of the men shouted with horror. “And we’ve left the box sitting on the road!”
     Then without giving it another thought, the army turned and raced back down the hill to try and rescue their beloved box. I hoped that they would be too late, but they were running very, very fast.
     I sighed and turned back to face the meadow. The glow was increasing over the valley and I knew it was time for me to go down there and remain. Jesus was coming back again, and I did not want to miss anything. I wasn’t going to be left out. I sighed for the ones who would be. Then I walked down into the valley of joy and took my place with the other children.

copyright 1991 by H.D. Shively