The visit with our mid-West relatives in Texas is now complete. The hospitality was, as you would expect from the South, far more than we deserved. The family is generally healthy and active, moving in a thousand opposite directions at the same time, yet they always (as in regularly) make time to enjoy a meal and get together for an afternoon (even if it is just to watch their beloved Cowboys almost be defeated by an 0-4 team). The muggy rain left the final six days clear and crisp, then returned in our absence.

One special highlight of this trip was getting to visit Woody and Barbara Blalock in Oklahoma City. I know that is not in Texas (however, I understand the Okies call that State to the south “Baja Oklahoma”). To keep things in perspective you can ask who won the annual Texas-OU college football showdown at the Cotton Bowl our second weekend.

Woody has been hospitalized for several weeks now and is determined to go home. At the same time he is also wanting to discover what purpose God has for his being hospitalized just now. It has been five years since Woody and Barbara moved to Oklahoma City. Their absence from Bell Gardens Baptist seems much longer. Throughout the day of my visit nurses and therapists of every variety came to fulfill their responsibilities. Generally each one would begin by asking, “How are you today, Mr. Blalock?” Woody responded with a smile, “not as good as you.” That happy quip brought a chuckle to us all and made Woody “the favorite patient” among the staff in his section of the hospital.

As is often the way things are, I found myself being far more encouraged by Woody and Barbara than I could ever hope to be for them. On the four hour trek back to Texas I thought about Woody’s engaging response in the midst of his illness. I always learn a little something from Woody and this time was also true to form. Paul’s remark to the Philippians came to mind. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

Did you ever notice the insignificant word in that verse? I’m referring to that little word “alway.” What does “rejoice in the Lord, alway” mean? We like to think that “rejoice in the Lord” means “I am most apt to praise the Lord when everything is moving with vigor and just the way I want life to be.” But that is more like “happiness” (which in itself is dependent on my circumstances) rather than “joy” (which is founded in Jesus Christ, who is also the object of our expressions of rejoicing).

So, if “rejoice in the Lord” is already in itself not dependent on my circumstances, why does Paul find it necessary to add that one little word “alway”? From our perspective the word appears to be redundant, but that would make Paul’s repeated exhortation “and again, I say…” doubly repetitious. Paul must have had something else in mind than simply saying the same thing over and over. In other verses where this same Greek word is used these ideas are expressed: “In every season,” “all the days,” “at all times,” “on all occasions,” and “evermore.” With a single stroke Paul carefully, cleverly united rejoicing in Christ with something we understand a little better: time.

The Philippians were encouraged to delight in the person and work of Jesus Christ, not just when their life situation was good. They were challenged to rejoice without regard to time or the times. That is a mighty tall order. After all, what does Paul’s admonition say about our whining and gripes? Since Paul doesn’t explicitly say, is it possible that for the Christian, there is no place for grumbling? (yicks!)

So, how is this “rejoicing always” mindset Paul calls the Philippians to live developed? Not always, but more times than not, Jesus enlarges our capacity for rejoicing through the experiences of sorrow (Romans 5:3-4), through persecution for Christ’s sake (Matthew 5:11-12), through troubles, through tribulation. Let’s see if I understand what I am saying. Adversity (and not prosperity) is a better enabler in rejoicing? That is the exact opposite of what I normally think. Then again, God’s ways usually are.

As I thought about all that “rejoice…always” could mean, I noticed my many wasted opportunities. I also realized that in myself, this is something I can’t do. But Jesus Christ can and chooses to do so through each of us who call Him our Savior and Lord. Occasionally we get to observe this “rejoice in the Lord always” spirit in others. His work in them can ignite a desire in us to please God, allowing Him to live through us in the same way. “Always.”