"A Calf's Look at Life"

        "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never

         Cover with shame."                                    -Psalm 34:5

On particularly damp and windy day, hundreds of calves were huddled outside, shoulder to barnquarter, tucked between the fence and the barn. The rain had created a mess of mud  and the calves looked miserable. 

         All except one calf although he, too, faced the dame windy rain and was covered with the same mud, he chose a different shelter an open field of muck! In the face of the wind he skipped and jump loke a child. He was oblivious to thr downpour. That calf literally looked happy.

         Life is quite often like the farm scene of the calves, isn't it? We huddle with others of like misery in hopes that one day our lives will be happy again. The calf, however, David, the psalmist, chose an unusual moment in his life to declare the jo of being a child of God. Huddled around him in the cave of adulam were four hundred smelly, dirty renegades fleeing from saul. David had the audacity to cevlare: "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shMe" (Psalm 34:5).

        David made a choice for himself. " we may be in a mess and we may be discouraged. But my God knows we are here and knows our need. I will dance and sing."

        David was able to do despite his fears. He submitted them to God and was enabled to declare a calflike joy. Ate you gripped with a spirit of feaf? Take each one by the horn and lead it to the fear of God. Let yours fears see the light of eternal day and you too, will skip, laugh, dance, and sing.

         Lord, I desire to skip and dance like a calf despite the problems. That face me each day. Grant me the inner sunshine of Your Holy Spirit.