I mentioned on Sunday that I had been prescribed some medicine last week, and sometimes after taking it I get hiccups. Thankfully, I was able to get through the service without a hiccup attack, and have largely avoided it for the past week. But I did have some trouble sleeping, and since I don't take much medicine, I decided to Google the specific drug to see what other side effects I might expect.

Some of the symptoms were predictable: headaches, dizziness, difficulty falling asleep. But there were a few more that were a little disconcerting, like extreme changes in mood (what else is new?) and bulging eyes (!!). Fortunately, I have escaped that one so far.

But the one possible side effect of the medicine that got my attention was this one: "inappropriate happiness." Is that really a thing? Can someone actually be inappropriately unhappy? And how can you tell when your happiness is appropriate or not?

I have certainly known a few people who seemed to always be inappropriately unhappy, but never anyone who "suffered" from being happy inappropriately. I have joked about it all week, when something hasn't gone right, that it's okay, because I am inappropriately happy, anyway. But the whole thing got me to thinking this week about what that could possibly mean.

The word inappropriate is defined as "improper, unbecoming, not suitable for a situation, time or place." In other words, the circumstances wouldn't dictate that you would be happy, but the drugs say otherwise. Perhaps they should start using this as their main selling point when marketing the medicine. I would imagine their sales would skyrocket.

Really, that two-word phrase reminds me of the definition of joy, more than happiness. Happiness usually refers to something that is circumstantial, while joy is something that comes from the inside out, almost in spite of the circumstances. Accordingly, the Bible talks a lot about joy. As C.S. Lewis famously said, "Joy is the serious business of heaven."

For instance, we know from the psalms that in the Lord's presence there is fullness of joy. Jesus told His disciples that He came so that His joy would be in them, so that their joy would be made full. And Paul reminded us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, a product of our living and abiding in Him.

And this time of year--which 'tis, after all, the season to be jolly--we especially "rejoice" because of the joy that Christmas brings. Joy to the world, we sing, for the Lord has come. The Light has pierced the darkness, and so we repeat the sounding joy, even if, in the world's eyes, it still looks pretty dark out there.

So here's hoping and praying you are experiencing the glad tidings of great joy that the angels first told the shepherds about, and that your happiness is downright inappropriate, not because of drugs, but because of Jesus. He makes all the difference in the world.

It is such a joy to be your pastor, and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday, morning and evening, as we celebrate our Savior together.

--Pastor Ken