Rocks and thawing floods"repeat the sounding joy"
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let all, their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
This Christmas season brings to mind the traditional carol, “Joy to the World,” which includes this invitation, “Repeat the sounding joy!”
What a great statement of purpose. Yours and mine. To repeat the resounding joy of God and man -- not distant and angry, but in tender and warm relation to one another.
There are, in the course of one’s day, certain things not to be repeated. Here’s the only time the word “repeat” is even used in the King James Bible:
“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” (Prov 17:9)
or in today’s vernacular:
“One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, (New Revised Standard)
but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends.” (Amplified)
The wisdom writer understood that dwelling on a dispute separates friends, while forgiveness gives space for friendship to grow.
Other events to not repeat are our own past failures. Mistakes are to learn from, not to hash over. Once we have discovered the needed lesson so that it doesn’t happen again, move on. Life will provide plentiful opportunities to get it right the next time. And the next.
Simple rule of living: repeat whatever is good about God and man. Refuse to repeat (or gossip) disputes, discord, failings. Don’t be the 5 pm local news. Rather be grateful for all the good you can find.
Then you’ll feel the joy your life is repeating.
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