A Life of Warm Fuzzies

Think back to one of those memorable moments in your life, a time when the meaning of the event was such that it seemed endued with what can only be described as a holy atmosphere. Hold on to the loveliness, the wonder, the warmth of that feeling as you read ...

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1) .

What a heart-warming picture those words evoke, something akin to that beautiful feeling you got from that warm, fuzzy memory. That's how good it feels to be at one with those around you—your family, your colleagues, your church family.

Human beings being whom they choose to be, however, it isn't always possible to live in a happy Pollyanna ever after. That's why Paul wrote that we should try to live in peace as much as we can (Romans 12:18). It's a sad fact that not everyone will accept an olive branch. Not everyone will respond affably to a kindness. But we, as followers of the Way, should let any prickliness be on their part. On ours let there be continued extended kindness, regardless of their actions or reactions.

May I add: this is written by someone who lived and dealt with an extremely prickly family member for many, many years. Sometimes just a word of praise to Jesus from my lips bought down scathing criticism on my head. I remember one such occasion when the words spewed on me eviscerated me to such a degree as to actually cause me to question my sanity. Was I crazy to praise God all the time? Was I off the deep end by always thinking about God?

Thankfully, in that tender way God alone has, the Lord quietly reminded me of Auntie Trinie, with whom I worked in the ministry. Praises to God often crossed her lips, as they did the lips of my best friend in Mexico City, not to mention the other members of the church there. If I was crazy, then they were, too. It took just that thought to help me realize that the harsh criticism was off the mark.

Those who do not love the Lord and do not walk with Him, to them the ways of those who think of Him at all times seem to be the actions of those with mental defects—and often treat them accordingly. With this in mind, I can say unequivocally, with the authority of one who has lived a life often marginalized and deprecated, that it is indeed difficult to continue to be kind to those who treat you harshly. But with God's help it is possible. And with the same authority of validated experience, I can say that when we hang on to endeavoring for kindness and unity no matter what, the next two verses of Psalm 133 come to pass:

"It (unity) is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

What's so great about ointment and dew? Biblically speaking, ointment is representative of the anointing, of having been chosen by God for greatness, and much, much more. Dew represents the refreshing of daily renewal. All to be gained by curbing that natural inclination of our tongue to defend itself, to wreak the same hurt—or worse—with which we were dealt. That ointment, that dew, that is what we get when we do all in our power to keep the peace. And it is in the midst of this peace that God commands the blessing, life for evermore.

The Hebrew word for "life" used here is "chayyim," a word that goes way beyond meaning mere existence. It includes fullness, blessedness, and an enduring (as in everlasting) life. If you look in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible you also find the words "merry," running,"  and "springing." That seems to give the sense of something alive, something that fills you with joyful energy. In other words, this life is not just any humdrum life, but the best of lives.

So ... what is the result of unity (or doing your best to strive for it)? Untold blessings in a life worth living.

That prickly family member? While she never lost all her prickliness, eventually she, too, began to act like us "crazies"—the praises of God began to flow unabashedly from her lips—even to the extent of actively encouraging those around her to do likewise.

So, chin up! Live a life of warm fuzzies in Him. Keep doing what God has called us to do. Pray. Praise. Forgive. Live for Him, ignoring the naysayers—payday IS coming!

"Weary not in well doing: for in due season we will reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9).