Chasing Joy — One Example of How to "Git After It"

A Guest Post by Jill Baughan

Some kinds of joy God drops into your lap; you don’t have to do a thing. Just sit there and be delighted as it bounces all over you.

However, other times He invites you to be more proactive—to make up your mind to just “git after it,” if you know what I mean.

Today I’d like to introduce you to my new friend and fellow Our Daily Bread author, Jill Baughan. I recently read Jill’s latest book, No Matter What, and enjoyed it so much I had to share it with you. If you’re looking for a primer on how to find joy (and more than a few chuckles), even when life’s not funny, you need to read this book. Personally, I’ve already ordered a few more copies to gift to my friends who need a fresh perspective on joy.

Here’s a sample from No Matter What. I know you’ll enjoy Jill’s fresh (and funny) perspective. ~Lori

Some kinds of joy God drops into your lap; you don’t have to do a thing. Just sit there and be delighted as it bounces all over you.

However, other times He invites you to be more proactive—to make up your mind to just “git after it,” if you know what I mean.

Such was the case the time my mom and I were at the Virginia State Fair, and passed by a photo stand where you could get your picture taken with a real chimpanzee for a mere five dollars.

Her name was Tootsie, and when I caught sight of her and that irresistible offer, I begged, “Mom, Mom, please can we have our picture taken with the chimp? Pleeeeease?” But my mother resisted.

“Aw, come on, Mom. It’ll be fun. Just this once?” I whined.

Still she declined.

“But why not?” I wanted to know.

“Well, she said slowly, obviously trying to think of a good reason, “twenty years from now someone might get a look at it and think it was a three-generation photo.”

Quick thinking on her part, and not a bad excuse. Still I was disappointed.

Keep in mind that I was a full-grown adult at the time. I had my own money, and I could have gotten my own picture taken with the ape, thankyouverymuch. But I respectfully caved in, even though I just knew that someday my mom would look back with angst and regret at having passed up that little moment of whimsy.

Fast Forward Twenty Years

Fast forward twenty years later, when family members from Indiana–including my mom– were planning to visit us in Virginia. Lying in bed one night, I was trying to think up ways to entertain them, when I suddenly had a brilliant idea: Remembering the lost opportunity of two decades before, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to redeem that moment with my mom at the State Fair? If only I could find a photographable chimpanzee, we could have a giant family photo session, and I could get that shot with Mom, the chimp and me–and she wouldn’t be able to say no!”

So I networked for a few weeks, and finally found a man who had a small zoo and a two-year-old chimp who loved people. When I called to tell him what I wanted to do, explaining that my mom and the rest of my family would be in town, he said, “Oh, you don’t want your elderly mother posing for pictures out in the cold. (It was December.) Why don’t I bring the chimp to your house?

The mere idea sent me to the moon.

So it was all set. My extended family arrived on a Friday. I broke the news to Mom, telling her that I needed some closure on that traumatic loss of opportunity in my life, and that the chimp would be arriving at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. She could run but she could not hide, I warned, so she might as well put some lipstick on and smile for the camera. This time though, to my delight, she was all about it!

Sierra the Chimp

On Saturday Sierra the chimp arrived right on time.

And believe me when I say that you have not truly lived until you’ve invited a chimpanzee into your living room for an hour or so of primal frolicking. She turned somersaults, leaped off chairs, “kissed” us when we had grapes in our mouths, let us scratch her belly, and rolled over (and over and over) us when we lay on the floor like logs. It was so much fun, in fact, it was a little scary since, by the end of the hour, we were all acting pretty much alike.

Anyway, since that dream of mine was to have a family portrait made with the chimp amongst us, we all gathered around for a photo shoot, with the chimp up front looking for all the world like some baby cousin.

But the sweetest moment of the day was when my mom and I sat down–at last–for our picture with the chimpanzee.

I now keep that photo on my dresser to remind me not only of that sweet moment, but also to remind me that there will be opportunities for joy today if only I’ll be proactive enough to embrace them.

And so

And so, my friend,

May you, too, respond to the call of the wild in your soul.

May you feel the urgency to rearrange your life for the sake of celebration.

And may you answer with a “yes!” when you get the slightest inkling that God is tapping you on the shoulder, and saying, “My child. Git after it!”

A joyful heart is good medicine.

Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)

Jill Baughan says, When I was a child, the Tilt-A-Whirl at my hometown’s annual street fair taught me this life-changing truth: it is entirely possible for a human being to laugh and throw up at the same time.

Little did I know that years later, when I was a grown-up, God would use this revelation to show me that joy and sorrow can occupy the same space, that they can walk (or hurl) alongside each other on the same road. We just have to be intentional about drawing from the joy while we’re going through the tough stuff.

Her newest book, No Matter What: 90 Devotions for Experiencing Unexpected Joy in Tough Times, helps you do just that, with humor, depth, practical suggestions and stories. Lots of stories.

If you’re going through a challenging time right now, these pages will give you hope for joy

First thing in the morning when your feet hit the floor,

Last thing at night before your head hits the pillow,

Or during the day when you need a little encouragement from our God, who hears your heart and reminds you that if you go looking for joy, you will most likely find it. No matter what.

Jill Baughan is an author, podcaster and speaker who helps people find joy, no matter what else is happening in life.