When Jumping Isn't Joyful

When told to jump, we’re supposed to ask, “How high?” Right? That expression apparently originated among the ranks of military personnel. Can’t you see it? New recruits in their spit-shined shoes standing at perfect attention as a sergeant barks out commands prefaced by the instructions, “When I say ‘jump,’ you say, ‘how high?’” It’s the supreme litmus test for obedience. No pushback. No questioning. Just doing as told and in a superlative manner. Honorable, perhaps, but it doesn’t sound like much fun, does it?

Yet jumping is generally joyful, don’t you think? Jumping rope is a favorite playground activity among children. What would the experience of a swimming pool be like if there wasn’t jumping off the diving board? And, of course, nothing takes the place of a trampoline! In recent years, millions of trampolines were installed in residential and commercial locations, including parks devoted exclusively to the joy of jumping. Don't we say that we “jump for joy” over some wonderful news or a delightful experience?

Obedience has its place. Civilized societies depend upon it. Keeping order in communities is a high priority for us. But joy is a key ingredient in human life. It’s essential for navigating the difficulties we all go through. Could it be that obedience and joy are not mutually exclusive? Are there some commands that are a delight to fulfill? Some directions that are a pleasure to follow? Perhaps we could rewrite the expression so that when commanded to jump, instead of asking how high, we might say, “Join me!”

In his book Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell describes the difference between a life of faith that is like an immoveable brick wall and one that is like jumping on a trampoline. He writes, “A trampoline only works if you take your feet off the firm, stable ground and jump into the air and let the trampoline propel you upward. Talking about trampolines isn’t jumping; it’s talking… In brickworld, the focus often becomes getting people to believe the right things so they can be ‘in.’ And once we’re in, the goal often becomes learning how to get other in with us. It is possible to be in, and yet our hearts can remain unaffected. It’s possible to believe all the right things and be miserable. This is why I am so passionate about the trampoline. What is the point, while we’re at it, of a trampoline?

The point is our joy. That is when God is most pleased. ‘Take delight in the Lord.’ It’s an odd command, isn’t it? But God is serious about this.”

Is that something we can obey? Is this God someone we are willing to?

Joyfully jotted down by Rev. Rebecca Taylor, Pastor, without AI's direction