May the 4th Be With You

May the 4th be with you - a wonderfully clever play on words for excited Star Wars fans everywhere. 

In the middle of my workout this morning, my trainer told me to take a break and beckoned me to look out the window. Someone stepped out of a small blue car dressed like Darth Vader. Her excitement reminded me of a child sneaking a peek at Santa on Christmas morning. "May the 4th be with you," I teased. 

As we continued our workout, she switched things up, adding a lightsaber station in place of the free-form round (I workout at 9Round). It was just the two of us this early in the morning, and I enjoyed watching her discovering new and fun ways to torture me. 

I began to consider the magnitude of this unofficial holiday. I have not been on social media today, but I am willing to bet that there are tons of references to Star Wars. Had I considered this day before leaving for my workout, I would have brought my Star Wars shirt to change into before work and join in on some of the fun. 

Return of the Jedi is the first movie I remember seeing, and I owned my fair share of Star Wars toys. However, I never bought into the hype of the new movies. Still, even if I were not a fan at all, even if I had never heard of the Star Wars franchise, it would prove difficult to get through today without hearing some sort of reference. 

What a brilliant gimmick . . . 

I wonder what the world would look like if Christianity had a similar gimmick to capture everyone's imagination and wonder and joy. I mean, we do, obviously - and it is no gimmick. We have the cross and everything that the cross represents.

But . . . 

What if we Christians carried the joy of the cross with us wherever we went? What if we clothed ourselves in Christ in such a way that people would call others to the window to come to look and see? What if our joy ignited inspiration in others to join in on the fun? What if our joy spread as rapidly as a silly little slogan?

Why doesn't it? When did our joy turn to sorrow? When did our badge of honor turn into a badge of shame? Why do we suppress it? Hide it? Feel ashamed by it? 

Or . . . 

Why do we shove it in other's faces so that it becomes a stench? Repulsive? Grotesque? 

I do see hope. Christians are starting to ask these very questions. We are waking up to the problem and the need. The more we wonder, the more we question, the more we long for something more, the more the light will be able to re-penetrate. 

So, let's pick up our joy and have some fun. 

Jesus laughed. So can we. 

Be proud. 

Be humble. 

Be thankful.

Be joy-filled. 

Walk tall.

Be shameless. 

Be bold. 

Be brave. 

Love. 

And brandish the force within you so that others are eager to see and be!

May the 4th (of Jesus) be with you! 😁