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For the last several months I have been experiencing a lot more Dee dah days! I feel more joyful now than perhaps at anytime in my ministry. I love what I do and I love the people I work with. Everyday really does feel like a gift. I feel more joy in my life and a deep gratitude for my friends, my family, and the ministry I have.

I first came across the phrase ‘dee dah day’ from reading John Ortberg’s book, ‘The Life You Always Wanted’. In one of his chapters, Ortberg writes about the time he was giving a bath to his children, all three of them in the tub at one time. One of his children, his youngest girl, got out of the tub and ran around and around in circles singing, ‘Dee dah day, Dee dah day”. Ortberg says her dancing was an expression of her great joy. She was so happy she couldn’t hold it in any longer. So, she burst into song and dance to release her joy. She was celebrating life.  But, Ortberg confesses that he was unable to celebrate with her. Bathing his kids was just something he was trying to get through. He looked at it as something that needed to be done but wasted precious time and delayed him from doing other important things. In other words, he was unable to be fully present to his daughter and celebrate with her in her moment of joy.

I think about how many times that has happened in my own life. Preoccupation with self can rob us of opportunities for joy. Do you know any people around you that are bored? Sure you do!  Walker Percy has said it well, boredom is “self stuffed with the self.” People who are joyful are seldom bored. They see possibilities for life and hope in every situation. My guess is that joy must be at the very heart of our Creator. And, if we miss joy in this short life we have, then we will miss living life fully alive.

A couple of weeks ago I had a Dee dah day! My dear friend and fellow minister, Steve Blanchard and his sweet wife, Susan, adopted two Chinese babies a few years ago. Their youngest daughter, Menlee, who now attends preschool at our church invited me to be her guest at preschool for Hero Day. Wow! I was so excited! I always wanted to be a hero!  The fact that I was her hero for that day was exhilarating! (Thanks to Steve and Susan for saying good things about me to their daughters)! I quickly posted the photo of Menlee and myself on Facebook last week. That day at preschool with Menlee was a ‘Dee dah day’ for me! Actually, I have been having a lot of ‘Dee dah days’ lately. Whether taking some of our new American children from Nepal for ice cream at Chick-fil- et, or going trick or treating on Halloween with our International students at VCU, or just having lunch with some of our newly Divorce Recovery participants, I am having some of the best and most joyful times in my life.

I think the possibility for having Dee dah days are all around us. Doesn’t seem strange that the people often closest to suffering seem to have the most joy!

May you have a Dee dah day real soon!

Dee dah day, Dee dah day, Dee dah day!

Ralph Starling

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