Season of Our Joy 2

One of the fun parts of the story in Ezra, for me, is that because they had lost track of the ‘Feast’, families didn’t get their sukkah (singular of Sukkot) up until the 2nd day of the festival.  I was right on schedule. I had thought to use the kitchen tent as my sukkah, but during set-up the first day, we decided that our temporary site was really too small for the kitchen and the quanset was a better choice anyway.  Food was cooked over the fire and eaten under the shelter.  Until the move on Thursday, we also shared our sukkah with cooking supplies and food, but since there were only 2 of us, it worked well.  There was a peace and joy about it as crude as it was.  

The main concentration was for a thankful heart and a joyful spirit. It was to be celebrated with kindness and exuberance. It is a remembrance of the provision of God through the past year and an affirmation of the protection and provision of God through the coming difficult time of winter.  They shared blessings and gifts with others who were less fortunate. One week without sorrow, complaint or worry; these were to be replaced by joy, faith and celebration.  The people were cautioned to not even allow the sorrow for their sin to interfere with their joy.  I only veered off the path a couple of times briefly and God reminded my spirit that it was a week for thanksgiving and joy; other things were to be left to trust in God to take care of the hard times and difficult situations.  It was easier there than I would have thought.

One of my greatest joys is sunrise.  Each day I woke and walked with my buddy, Willow and then headed out to find a spot to enjoy the sunrise.  They were all gorgeous colors in a wonderful setting –mostly at some part of the lake.  Each day began with joy in the grace and provision of God for that moment.  I would return to the camp and, together with my mr., prepare breakfast.  Almost without fail, the shofar from the messianic group would blow just as we began to eat.  The end of that cul-de-sac was right behind us, so we could hear their excitement.  More joy.

As I was learning, listening to videos, viewing pictures from the web, I was sharing with Louis.  We both got excited about ways to increase our fun and celebrate there in the open air.  I learned about the succah and saw examples of how they decorated them.  I learned about the foods included in bible times and today.  My visit with the lady at the bathhouse had made me aware of kosher marshmallows. I had never considered that.

My mind began exploring.  I didn’t want to lose the essence in the effort, but I began to feel that the effort applied with joy was the essence.  The celebration is thick with symbolism- both commemorative and prophetic.  We had to go back home on Wednesday to serve our church.  I planned to bring things back to decorate and to celebrate.  By Wednesday noon, I had learned so much.  But I was beginning to see how much more there was to discover.