Italy Celebrates Near Completion of New Genoa Bridge

The Wired Word for the Week of May 10, 2020

In the News

Two weeks ago, in the Italian city of Genoa, the last massive section of the deck of a new bridge was

hoisted into place, completing the 3,500-foot-long backbone of the structure. While the deck still needs

to be covered by concrete and then asphalted, the installation of the last section of the bridge's span

was marked by a ceremony, limited in scope because of the social distancing still in effect in that

country.

At the event, Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte said the imminent completion of the bridge means that

from Genoa, "a new light shines, giving hope to all of Italy." He also said that the span "sutures a

wound, reconnecting a fundamental artery to the center and heart of this community and city." That

was a reference to the collapse of the previous viaduct, Ponte Morandi, in 2018, where one of the main

pylons fell during mid-morning traffic, bringing down a 690-foot section of the roadbed on August 14,

2018, killing 43 people. That bridge had been designed and built in the 1960s.

The new bridge, yet to be named, will be a primary artery connecting the two sides of Genoa, which

are separated by the Polcevera River and two rail lines, as well as being part of the E80 European

highway that links Italy to France.

In addition to the impressive streamlined design of the new bridge (see photos in the links below), part

of what makes it remarkable is the speed at which it was built and the fact that it was constructed

within the projected cost (about $216 million, plus about $98 million for the demolition of the Morandi

bridge ), especially in a country where public works projects are not usually known for their

efficiency.

The old bridge failed in August 2018. Work on the new one began while the remnants of the old one

were still standing, with shifts working 24/7, and continued without stoppage through a change in

national government, investigations into the cause of the Morandi viaduct collapse, debate over

whether privatization of Italy's roadways had put people at risk and the ravages of the coronavirus,

which caused high numbers of deaths, especially in northern Italy, where Genoa is located, and forced

a widespread lockdown.

The new bridge is expected to be open in late July of this year.

The new span was designed by architect Renzo Piano, a native of Genoa, who donated his services to

the city. With Genoa having a large shipbuilding industry, Piano designed the underbelly of the bridge

to resemble the curved hull of a ship. The completed structure will have sensors and robots inside the

deck's sidings to continually monitor the bridge, perform basic maintenance and help authorities

respond to increased traffic flows.

By physically reuniting the city, it is expected that Genoa's new bridge will enable many residents to

return to more normal patterns of living.

"Genoa is a model for Italy," said Prime Minister Conte at the ceremony when the last section was

lifted into place. "And it teaches us that the greatest act of love is when we commit to restarting

together. Genoa radiates a light that gives hope to the whole of Italy."

The new bridge is expected to last at least 100 years.

More on this story can be found at these links:

Italy's Incredible 'Floating Ship' Bridge Reaches for the Sky. CNN

Amid Pandemic, Italy Sees Hope in Genoa Bridge Completion. The Washington Times

Completion of New Genoa Bridge Seen as Symbol of Hope in Italy. The Guardian

Applying the News Story

The word "bridge" appears nowhere in the Bible, but the concepts of bridging gaps and getting across

obstacles do. And the idea of "building bridges" of understanding, of welcome, of reconciliation and

similar kinds of connections has long been considered to be among the ways Christians can live out

their faith.

So for this lesson, we will consider what it means to "build bridges."

The Big Questions

1. Is the purpose of metaphorical bridge-building so that you can cross over to where someone else is

or that he or she can cross over to where you are or both, or can there be other purposes? Discuss your

answers and describe differences.

2. Describe the infrastructure that connects us to God and to the family of God. What are some of the

components of that infrastructure? How healthy is it in your own community? If it is "functionally

obsolete" or "structurally deficient," what steps are needed to repair it?

3. How important in this multicultural time is it that Christians seek to build bridges with people of

other faiths? Why? In your answer, define what is meant by building "bridges."

4. What waters threaten to drown you today? Do you believe that the God who made a land bridge for

the Hebrews to pass through the sea on dry land wants to do the same for you in your situation?

5. What emotional factors separate you today from people you don't wish to be separated from? Who

would have to start the bridge building for this to change?

Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope

Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Isaiah 58:12

Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall

be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. (For context, read 58:1-12.)

These words are addressed to Israelites who have returned to their homeland from exile in Babylon in

hopes of rebuilding their lives and prospering. They have found, however, much of Jerusalem and the

surrounding area in ruins, and thus are quite discouraged.

They are worshiping God, practicing the rituals of their faith, including fasting (v. 3), but feel like they

are receiving no benefit from doing so. Through the prophet, God confronts them about their

oppression of the poor and hungry, telling them that the ritual fasting is no good if not accompanied by

righteous behavior. Thus, God says, "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to

undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share

your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to

cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?" (vv. 6-7).

If they correct their behavior, however, they will succeed in rebuilding their properties and their

society -- they will "raise up the foundations of many generations," as the verse above says -- and they

will be known as "the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in."

While in context, repairing the breach probably made one think of wall-building, breaches can also

represent divisions between groups. In that case, repairing the breach could be "bridge-building."

Questions: Whom do you think of today as a "repairer of the breach"? What breaches is that person

attempting to repair? Where are you attempting to build a bridge?

Genesis 50:20-21

Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous

people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this

way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them. (For context, read 50:15-21.)

These are words from Joseph, son of Jacob, to his brothers who had long before sold him into slavery

(Genesis 37:25-28). When circumstances first brought them back together, Joseph built a forgiveness

"bridge" to them (Genesis 45:1-11), but later yet, after their father died, his brothers feared Joseph had

been kind to them only to avoid grieving their father, so in the passage above, Joseph had to build a

bridge a second time.

Questions: Do some metaphorical bridges need upkeep, just as actual bridges do? Which ones do you

have to tend to keep them from collapsing?

1 Corinthians 9:19-22

For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of

them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one

under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those

outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under

Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win

the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. (For context,

read 9:1-23.)

The apostle Paul doesn't use the word "bridge" here, but his description of his work in this passage

could be characterized as "bridge-building." He puts himself in service to others on their own terms,

that he may testify to them of the gospel.

Questions: When have you given up something you were entitled to as a way to put yourself in service

to someone else? What was the outcome? When has someone done that for you? What was the

outcome? How should we relate to people with whom we find little or no common ground?

Ephesians 2:13-14, 17 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the

dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. … 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who

were far off and peace to those who were near ... (For context, read 2:11-22.)

The apostle Paul is here addressing a problem that was roiling the early church. The church was born

in the cradle of Judaism, and virtually all the first believers, like Jesus himself, were Jews. Thus, at the

time of the Ephesian letter, there was still a belief among some that for Gentiles to become followers

of Jesus, they first had to undergo Jewish initiation rites.

There is not much in the Ephesians letter that speaks directly to this struggle, but it's the subtext of

verses 11-22 of chapter 2. And verse 14, quoted above, speaks of how Christ unites both Gentile and

Jewish believers into one group.

This, then, helps us better understand verse 17, where Paul speaks of Christ as the one who brought

"good news of peace" both to those who were "far" (i.e., the Gentiles, the "outsiders"), and to those

who were "near" (the Jews, the "insiders"). Paul declares that they both have access to God through

Christ (v. 18) and that they both are a part of God's household (v. 19).

The idea of household in the Greek world carried with it the weight of familial bonding. In other

words, Paul is declaring that the Jews and Gentiles are family, through the atoning work of Christ.

Moreover, this family comprises the temple of God, where God chooses to dwell (vv. 21-22).

Such a bold declaration was a radical claim in those days. Many of the Israelites believed that the

Gentiles were outside God's chosen people and could never be included into the "family" of God. But

Paul argues otherwise. The Gentile believers have been included, with the Jewish believers, into the

family of God, creating a new temple in which God resides. In effect, Christ is available to all people,

and all who accept him are now among God's chosen people.

Considering that Christianity long ago came to exist as a wholly separate faith from Judaism, it is

difficult for us today to grasp how radical that viewpoint was during the time of Paul. However, we can

have some sense of "outsiders" and "insiders" as we think about whom we'd welcome into our

congregations and whom we'd not.

Questions: Who is the bridge-builder in this passage? What "bomb" did Jesus drop on the religious

class system of his day? What can we learn from Paul's idea of "one body in Christ"? What call does

that place on us?

If Jesus can bridge divides between Christians today, what does it take for us to live into that bridging?

How should we respond to Martin Luther King Jr.'s comment that "the most segregated hour of

Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning"?

1 Timothy 2:3-6 ... God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For

there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself

human, who gave himself a ransom for all ... (No context needed.)

Here Paul calls God "our Savior"; God was not just an implacable bystander watching his Son sacrifice

his life for us, but his love for sinners was the driving force that caused him to give his Son for us so

that all who believe should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Questions: What is the role of a mediator between warring parties? How is a bridge a metaphor for

Jesus the Mediator? Why is Christ Jesus the one perfect mediator between God and humanity?

For Further Discussion

1. Respond to this observation from TWW team member Mary Sells: "People who were surely affected

by the tragic collapse of the previous bridge were part of creating a new bridge -- they were not

paralyzed by their fear or grief. What happens when we know we suffer, yet God provides new ways

to get us through/over the bad times and into the new days?

2. Do you ever feel uneasy when crossing a large or high bridge? If so, why do you think that is? (For

an example, read TWW team member Stan Purdum's account "Pursued by the Peterbilt" of crossing

heavily traveled bridges on his bicycle.) Do you ever feel excited or uplifted when crossing a bridge? If

so, why do you think that is?

3. Discuss this, from Genoa bridge construction manager Stefano Mosconi: "Normally it would take

three to three and a half years to design and build a bridge of this size. This one took a little over a

year," who added that up to 1,000 people were working on the project at the same time. "This bridge is

not just a stretch of highway. It also links two parts of the city of Genoa, so it was very important to

have it working as soon as possible," Mosconi said. "We also wanted to respond to a very negative

event, a huge tragedy, with a positive force, by building a safer bridge faster than ever before."

4. Discuss the bridge symbolism offered by "a bridgetender with entirely too much time on her hands,"

and decide what spiritual symbolism you might add.

5. Respond to this: With the underside of the bridge deck being designed to resemble the curved hull of

a ship, we were reminded that the first-century Christians viewed the church as a place where the great

virtues survive storm and calamity. One of the first symbols that the early Christians used to represent

the church was Noah's ark, the vessel on which representatives of all living creatures found refuge

during the catastrophe of the great flood. The ark was the place from which those surviving people and

animals went forth to repopulate the earth.

In similar fashion, the early Christians considered the church as the place from which God's message

went forth to save the world. The main part of a church building, where the congregation sits, is called

the "nave" from the Latin word for "ship." You will occasionally see that symbolized today in the

stained-glass windows of some churches, where either Noah's ark itself or the dove with an olive

branch in its beak is pictured. For the same reason, the arched ceilings of some church sanctuaries are

deliberately designed to look like the inside of a ship's hull.

Responding to the News

This is a good time to think and pray about the situations where the "bridges" others have built to us

need maintenance and upkeep.

Prayer

O God, help us to live our faith with gentleness and reverence. Enable us to see the great value you

place on all humankind, even across great divides in understanding and beliefs. Let our practice of our

faith be winsome, warm and welcoming, and always faithful to the example and teachings of Jesus. In

his name. Amen.

Other News This Week

People Flock to Yale's Most Popular Course Ever on How to Be

Happy

The Wired Word for the Week of May 10, 2020

In the News

More than 2.2 million people, including more than 500,000 since April 1, have enrolled in Yale

cognitive psychology professor Laurie Santos' free 10-week online class, "The Science of Well-

Being," making it the most popular course in the university's 316-year history. On campus, the course

is titled "Psychology and the Good Life," aka "The Happiness Course."

Santos found the demand for the class "a bit surreal," but understandable, given that "people are

looking for evidence-based ways of improving their mental health," she said. Santos also hosts "The

Happiness Lab" podcast.

Santos' class in "positive psychology" or "happiness studies" focuses on well-being rather than on

easing suffering, which has received more emphasis from psychologists in the past.

The course questions conventional wisdom that one needs certain things in order to be happy: things

such as a good job, plenty of money, a perfect love relationship, physical beauty, strength, skills or

possessions. Any of those things may give pleasure for a time, but it tends to be short-lived. Such

measuring sticks can lead to comparing oneself to others, which may result in pride, envy,

competitiveness, insecurity and discontent.

That said, living in extreme poverty is no fun, either, and often contributes to misery. A minimum

income is generally required for basic subsistence, if not for a life in which people can thrive. But once

basic needs are met, the perennial drive to acquire more doesn't necessarily lead to more joy.

Tim Wilson at the University of Virginia and Dan Gilbert at Harvard characterized the belief that we

would be happy if only we could acquire X as "miswanting."

The old saying, attributed to publisher billionaire Malcolm Forbes, that "he who dies with the most

toys wins," seems to belie the fact that the person who dies with the most toys is just as dead as the

person who dies with fewer toys or with no toys at all. While having adequate income does provide a

certain amount of comfort, greater affluence doesn't automatically translate into greater happiness.

Santos encourages students to take time to evaluate what really contributes to happiness in life,

assigning homework such as making a regular effort to connect in a meaningful way socially; savoring

an experience, large or small; writing down five things for which they are grateful at the end of each

day; expressing appreciation to people who have impacted them in big or small ways; performing a

daily act of kindness; or paying attention to (being mindful of) the present moment.

"A gratitude letter is one of the most powerful tools for increasing happiness because it can forge

social bonds and really change someone's life," Santos says.

Santos recommends that students use a technique called "negative visualization," asking themselves,

"What if I didn't have this thing?" Imagining what our lives would be like without the things we have

can help us appreciate our blessings more.

Many recent enrollees in the course say they are using the time when they are sheltering at home to

take stock of their approach to life and to develop tools to enhance their happiness.

"It's a huge opportunity for introspection, spiritual renewal and creativity," said Arthur Brooks, who

teaches a happiness and leadership class at Harvard Business School. Brooks, a practicing Christian,

said people who take his course in the pursuit of personal happiness often discover that self-focus is

not the path to that end. "If I live under the illusion I'm the only thing that matters," Brooks said, "I

become anxious and unhappy."

Happiness studies can motivate people to look for meaning and purpose in working for goals that are

bigger than the self, such as the common good.

More on this story can be found at these links:

Yale's Popular Happiness Class Gains an Online Following Among the Socially Distanced. Religion

News Service

I Took Yale's Happiness Course and Here's Everything I Learned. Best Life

The Yale Happiness Class, Distilled. The Atlantic

Stuck at Home? Take Yale's Most Popular Course Ever: The Science of Happiness. Smithsonian

Magazine

Tidy Your Space, Transform Your Life. KonMari

Applying the News Story

In the Bible, people express happiness for many reasons:

being married (Deuteronomy 24:5; Proverbs 5:18; Song of Solomon 3:11); having children (Genesis 30:13; Psalm 127:3-5; Luke 1:14, 47, 58; John 16:21), especially when they are

wise (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20; 23:15, 24-25; 27:11; 29:3, 17); living in a peaceful and prosperous nation with plenty to eat and drink (1 Kings 4:20); sitting in the shade of a bush in the heat of the day (Jonah 4:6); being surprised by God (Genesis 17:17; 21:6); having guests come to visit (Luke 19:6; 1 Corinthians 16:17);76 being delivered from one's enemies (Exodus 18:9; Psalm 9:14); installing a new king (1 Chronicles 29:22);

observing days of rejoicing and festivals (Numbers 10:10; 2 Chronicles 30:21-23; Esther 8:16-17; Zechariah 8:19);

raising funds for a good cause (1 Chronicles 29:6-9); finishing a community project (Nehemiah 12:27, 43); dedicating a building (Ezra 6:16); reaping a bountiful harvest (Psalm 126:6; Isaiah 9:3; John 4:36); eating and drinking (Ecclesiastes 3:9, 12-13); eating together with believers (Acts 2:46); finding something or someone of value that had been lost (Luke 15:5-6, 9, 32); being reunited with loved ones after a separation (Exodus 4:14; John 16:20-22; Philippians 2:28); seeing justice done (Proverbs 21:15); having wise, righteous leaders (Proverbs 29:2); and even paying taxes to support common goals (2 Chronicles 24:8-14).

People rejoiced:

in the happiness of a friend, or in honor given to another member of their community (John 3:29; 1 Corinthians 12:26);

in prosperity (Ecclesiastes 7:14); in a sinner's genuine repentance (Luke 15:7, 10; 2 Corinthians 7:9); in the preaching of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:18); in the firm faith of believers (Colossians 2:5); in praise and worship of God (2 Chronicles 29:30; Psalm 100:2, 122:1)

God's people rejoice when God comes to dwell among them, to reign as king, and to judge the peoples

with equity, (Psalm 21:6, 67:4; Isaiah 52:8; Zechariah 2:10; 9:9). They are thrilled when they see the

risen Lord (John 20:20) and the works of God (Psalm 92:4; Acts 11:23). They delight when people

experience new life with God through Jesus (Acts 8:39; 16:34). And they even find joy when they

suffer for Christ (Acts 5:41; 1 Peter 1:6; 4:13).

In the Bible, we see people celebrating with song and dance (Psalm 63:7; Isaiah 30:29; 35:10; 51:11;

65:14; Jeremiah 31:13; Zephaniah 3:14); applause (Psalm 47:1); shouts (Psalm 27:6; 32:11; 71:23;

81:1); noise (Psalm 66:1; 95:1-2; 98:4, 6; 100:1); wine (Psalm 104:15; Ecclesiastes 10:19; Zechariah

10:7); feasting, gift-giving, and caring for the poor (Esther 9:17-22); perfume and incense (Proverbs

27:9); banners (Psalm 20:5); a change of clothes (Psalm 30:11; Luke 15:22-24); and the restoration of

wasteland into beautiful, fruitful gardens (Isaiah 51:3).

Joy springs from the heart of the triune God. God rejoices in doing good to his people (Jeremiah

32:41). Jesus, whose teachings were often peppered with humorous anecdotes and images (e.g.,

Matthew 7:3-6), and who was known for his fondness for eating and drinking with friends (Matthew

11:16-19), said he came to give his people abundant life (John 10:10). And the Holy Spirit produces

the fruit of joy in the life of the believer (Galatians 5:22-23).

Some of the joys we read about in the Bible are common to all people, no matter what kind of

experience they have had with God. Other joys are unique to the people of God. Within the confines of

this lesson, we will only scratch the surface of what the Bible teaches us about happiness and how to

find joy.

The Big Questions

1. If you could ask God for one thing to make you happy, what would you request? Would you have

answered that question differently when you were younger, and if so, what would you have requested

in the past?

2. Has your view of the source of happiness changed over the years, and if so, how and why has your

view changed?

3. What practical steps do you take that enhance your feelings of happiness? Which of these steps, if

any, might be described as spiritual in nature?

4. How can we nurture joy when our life is full of pain?

5. Does the church have a role to play in helping people experience greater happiness in life, and if so,

how would you define that role? How well do you think your church performs in that department?

What might your church do to improve on that aspect of its ministry?

Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope

Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:

Isaiah 65:17-19

For I am about to create new heavens

and a new earth;

the former things shall not be remembered

or come to mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever

in what I am creating;

for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,

and its people as a delight.

I will rejoice in Jerusalem,

and delight in my people;

no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,

or the cry of distress. (For context, read 65:17-25.)

This passage depicts a time in the future when God's joy merges with that of God's people. God

promises to create a new universe in which Jerusalem will be a joy and delight to God and to humanity

(vv. 17-18).

The kind of society God intends to create in the New Jerusalem is laid out in verses 19-25. Those who

have suffered greatly due to poverty, slavery, exploitation and disease will be particularly comforted

by God's promises that the sounds of weeping and the cries of distress will no longer be heard there,

that high infant mortality will be a thing of the past, and that the quality of life will improve so much

that living well past the age of a hundred would be normal.

In addition, the day laborers who build houses would actually get to live in them, rather than simply

constructing homes for the rich, and the workers who plant vineyards and harvest the crops would

share in the bounty.

Paul quotes a passage from Deuteronomy 25:4 when he advocates for adequate support for those who

work in the church, but the same principle applies to giving workers a fair return for their labor as well:

"For it is written in the law of Moses, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.' Is

it for oxen that God is concerned? Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for

our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a

share in the crop" (1 Corinthians 9:9-10).

Isaiah says something similar in vv. 22-23 of the text: "[M]y chosen shall long enjoy the work of their

hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity."

Questions: Do you think anyone might not welcome the New Jerusalem? Why might that be? What

aspects of the New Jerusalem do you think will bring the most happiness to God's people?

How are we in the church to understand the New Jerusalem? When we pray "Thy will be done, on

earth, as it is in heaven," are we inviting God to build the New Jerusalem here on earth now, or should

we expect to see it come into existence only after the return of Christ? What role, if any, do we Christ-

followers have in the establishment of the New Jerusalem?

Psalm 40:4, 7-9

Happy are those who make

the LORD their trust,

who do not turn to the proud,

to those who go astray after false gods. …

Then I said, "Here I am;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me.

I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart."

I have told the glad news of deliverance

in the great congregation;

see, I have not restrained my lips,

as you know, O LORD. (For context, read 40:4-10.)

The psalmist describes the joy of finding a home in the house of the Lord, who welcomes even the

humblest sparrow and swallow to make their nests there. Just to be in the vicinity of God brought the

psalmist joy (see also Psalm 65:4).

But happiness doesn't come merely from being physically near to God's house. Rather, happiness

comes from placing one's trust in the Lord and not in false gods (v. 4). Happiness comes from fulfilling

God's purpose for one's life and from doing God's will (vv. 7-8). Happiness comes from sharing the

glad news of God's deliverance among God's people (v. 9)

The writer of the book of Hebrews applies this psalm to Jesus in Hebrews 10:4-7, saying that "it is

impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the

world, he said,

"Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,

but a body you have prepared for me;

in burnt offerings and sin offerings

you have taken no pleasure."

Then I said, "See, God, I have come to do your will, O God"

(in the scroll of the book it is written of me).

As the author of the book of Hebrews interprets Psalm 40, Christ offered his life to take away sins.

And even though the cost was beyond all estimation, he "delighted"(!) to do God's will, because God's

law, the law of sacrificial love for others, was in his heart (v. 8).

While the suffering of Christ was excruciating in so many ways, scripture indicates that Jesus endured

it "for the sake of the joy that was set before him" (Hebrews 12:2), because he trusted his Father, and

he knew he was fulfilling God's purpose for his life and that he was doing God's will, which meant that

he had the joy of proclaiming the glad news of God's deliverance when he rose from the dead!

Questions: How might our experience of happiness be like and unlike Christ's experience of

happiness, as described in Psalm 40 and Hebrews 10? How is God's purpose for our lives like and

unlike God's purpose for Christ's life? How can we fulfill God's purpose for our lives and do God's

will?

Psalm 41:1-2

Happy are those who consider the poor;

the LORD delivers them in the day of trouble.

The LORD protects them and keeps them alive;

they are called happy in the land.

You do not give them up to the will of their enemies. (For context, read 41:1-3.)

Proverbs 14:21

Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,

but happy are those who are kind to the poor. (For context, read 14:20-21.)

These parallel passages speak to the happiness that comes from considering the poor and from showing

them kindness.

Questions: What does it mean to "consider" the poor? How should we who follow Christ do that?

How is considering the poor different from being kind to the poor?

Why do you think God cares for those who consider the poor?

Have you experienced a special joy after showing kindness to the poor or toward those who may not be

financially impoverished who have other needs (the sick, the lonely, the grieving, etc.)? What is the

nature of the happiness that comes to people who are kind to the poor?

Psalm 94:19

When the cares of my heart are many,

your consolations cheer my soul. (For context, read 94:16-19.)

Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety weighs down the human heart,

but a good word cheers it up. (No context needed.)

Proverbs 17:22

A cheerful heart is a good medicine,

but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. (No context needed.)

Romans 12:6, 8 ESV Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: … the one who does acts of

mercy, with cheerfulness. (For context, read 12:6-8.)

We consider these verses together because they depict God's ministry of consolation that holds us up

and cheers our souls (Psalm 94:19), and the related ministry of God's people when we do acts of mercy

with cheerfulness (Proverbs 12:25; 17:22; Romans 12:6, 8).

God's good word that cheers the anxious human heart (Proverbs 12:25) is Jesus (John 1:1, 14), who

told his disciples the night before he was placed on trial, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be

of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NKJV).

Jesus didn't sugarcoat the truth that his followers would face troubles in the world. But just as he faced

the cross with hope "for the joy that was set before him" (Hebrews 12:1-2), we can face trouble with

that same hope, because he has overcome the world.

The believer who does acts of mercy should do them "with cheerfulness," Paul writes. That

cheerfulness is just as important in the healing process as any ointment or pharmaceutical might be.

Hospital chaplain J.S. Park wrote:

You'll either be a voice

That someone must overcome

Or you'll be a voice

That helps someone overcome.

Be the voice you need.

Questions: What would be the impact of someone doing an act of mercy with a bitter, angry, or

resentful attitude toward the person who is suffering? How can you console and cheer someone who is

anxious and downcast without minimizing their suffering?

What is the nature of Christ's triumph over the world? What exactly did he conquer, and how? How

does his victory impact our lives?

Who has been a voice that helped you overcome? What would you like to say to that person now?

If you could speak to someone who needs encouragement in the voice you need, what would that voice

say?

For Further Discussion

1. Discuss this advice from columnist Frank Crane in a January 1 Syracuse Herald newspaper article

on New Year's resolutions published in 1914: "Resolve to be happy. Remember Lincoln's saying that

'folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.'" (There is no independent

evidence that Abraham Lincoln actually made this statement.)

2. Comment on this, from TWW team member Mary Sells: "That free will God gave us comes in

handy when we use it to choose our thoughts! The Happiness Course emphasizes our active

participation in happiness. How and what we think is up to us, and how happy we feel is the outcome.

Faith may be a gift from God, and yet gratitude to and trust in God are all moveable, based upon the

mindset and elbow grease we apply."

3. M.J. Ryan, in her book, Attitudes of Gratitude: How to Give and Receive Joy Every Day of Your

Life, remarked that a few years ago, she discovered that she had an addiction to consumption that made

her actually feel itchy if she didn't shop and buy something every weekend, whether she needed

anything or not.

"I didn't like feeling that I was a slave to shopping," she wrote. "So I decided to buy less and

appreciate what I already had more." When she put on an old favorite piece of clothing, she took time

to notice what she liked about it.

Ryan compared giving thanks for what we have to slowing down while eating. People are more

successful in dieting when they pause for 20 minutes after eating something to allow the body to

register the fact that it is no longer hungry. People who give thanks for what they already have

effectively hit "the pause button" on their urge to buy more, because they take time to recognize that

they already have more than enough.

Ryan recommends not buying anything new except food for two weeks, and using the time you

might have spent shopping to walk around your home, really noticing and giving thanks for things you

already have. What impact might that action have on your impulse to buy more?

4. Consider this, from Dr. Vincent Ryan: "The secret to life is to know when enough is enough." And

this, from philosopher Lao Tzu: "He who knows enough is enough will always have enough."

5. Seen on a sign in The Mayflower Coffee Shop in Chicago: "As you wander on through life,

sister/brother, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the donut, and not upon the hole." What does

that mean to you? What do you want to focus your attention upon? What you have, or what you don't

have? What difference will your choice of where to place your focus make?

6. More than one TWW team member remarked that shopping malls are places that display all the stuff

that the team members are just as happy not to have. That prolific author, Anonymous, wrote: "If you

haven't got all the things you want, be grateful for the things you don't have that you don't want." Can

you list at least three things that fit this category? Then thank God for them.

7. Have you ever regretted purchasing something that you thought would add to your happiness, only

to be disappointed later? TWW writer Stan Purdum commented: "When I'm tempted to buy something

I don't really need, that doesn't contribute some other value, such as convenience, to my life, I ask

myself how buying it will make me happier. If it doesn't pass that test, I generally don't buy it." Have

you tried evaluating potential purchases using this measuring stick? Has it changed your buying

decisions, and if so, how? What other guidelines, beyond whether something might make you happier,

would you use in making decisions about whether to purchase something?

Responding to the News

1. Whenever you encounter something this week that doesn't fit with your idea of a positive event, ask

God what is good about it. While not denying the unpleasantness or pain of the experience, ask

yourself what lesson or meaning you can glean from it, so that you don't waste the experience.

2. Review the text of the hymn, "Count Your Blessings," or sing it together. As a group, recount

blessings you have received from God. Only observe the rule that no one can repeat what someone else

offered as a blessing. What, if anything, surprised you about the blessings you listed? Thank God for

them.

Prayer (Suggested by Psalm 43:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; Psalm 119:35; Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:34;

Philippians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Philemon 1:7)

O God, our exceeding joy, help us to receive your word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit. May we

delight in following you in the path of your commandments to love you with all our mind, strength and

soul, and to love others as Jesus loves us, that we might bring much joy and encouragement to one

another. Amen.

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