“Lisa, why do you jump so much.” I think I hear that every day, and each time I hear it, it makes me smile. Why do I jump? Oh my goodness for so many reasons. I will never forget going to a Dennis Jernigan night of praise concert years ago, and hearing him talk about not judging the way people worship around you. We don’t know what they have been set free from. We don’t know their story. Oh how true that was!
It takes me back to the story of the 17 year old girl who worshiped the Lord with wild abandon! Every Sunday she would be raising her hands, dancing with delight with the light of Jesus shining out of her eyes. She was wholeheartedly worshiping the Lord. The more mature, sedate believers were worshiping God as well…in a refined, upscale kind of way. The young girl’s mother would grab her and pull her back to her seat but the young girl didn’t care. She wanted to praise God. So her hands stayed in the air and she clapped and sang loudly as she worshiped Him with abandon. The young girl turned out to be a 2 year old trapped in the body of a 17 year old. She was autistic. She hadn’t learned that her style of worship should please and impress people. Her worship hadn’t been tainted with religious pomp and circumstance. She didn’t pay attention to the people around her or worry about what they might think of her. Out of her childlike relationship with her Savior, this young girl just gave Jesus everything she had. She wasn’t phased by what others thought! It wasn’t about her at all, it was about Jesus!
I was told over 10 years ago by a doctor that due to several autoimmune diseases that affected my joints and tendons, I would no longer be able to run. I would need to put up the running shoes and call it a day. I’d be doing good to walk! I remember walking out to my car feeling like time was frozen, and sitting there. I was numb. I loved to run! What? Are you kidding me? I remember just crying out to God, 2 simple words….”Jesus help!” A peace like I have never felt before swept over me and pushed me out of my box of grief, and into a faith knowing He would take it from here! It was then that I drove myself to the running store, and bought myself a brand new pair of running shoes. That was many pairs of running shoes ago. God had other plans. And they were not sedate plans!
Why do I jump? Because I can! My body will let me! I am praising God for His faithfulness in every single jump! How can you be sad and jump at the same time? You can’t! It’s funny! It just makes you laugh! Go look at yourself in the mirror and do a funny jump! Try not to smile!
I remember watching the people around me in that Dennis Jernigan concert jumping around in pure delight that night! The looks on their faces of pure abandonment and freedom! They were healed, they were free, they were having fun! I get it!!! Life looks differently to me because of this journey. Life is a vapor, it is fragile, it can change in an instant! I have today and I want to celebrate it! And if my legs allow me to jump, then by golly we will jump! God’s picture is different from the world’s picture. He is bigger than a diagnosis, and doesn’t give expiration dates. He works on an eternal time clock!
God has changed my life profoundly through the journey of my autoimmune disease, and my Mom’s cancer journey. It caused me to start jumping and living outside of the box! You can’t do much jumping inside of a box. And trust me, I lived in that box for many years. Once you leave that box and start jumping around in the freedom of all He has, well you just can’t stop. And yes I have had people tell me to stop. I looked weird, it was dumb, goofy, and it got on their nerves. One lady who was my worst critic told me I was annoying because of my jumps. We ended up having coffee together and had the best visit! Guess what? She jumps with me now! In fact she gets much more air than I do! She’s is a pro! We have become the best of friends now and we always end up hugging and jumping after our visits.
The bottom line of it all is freedom. When you get a taste of what lies outside of the box, the box we so many times find ourselves in…..the box that limits and confines us, there is joy. There is relief. There are miracles. There is Jesus.
So next time you see me in a jumping picture. Maybe this will help you understand what’s behind the jump. Come join me! It’s really fun. And if your body won’t physically let you, your heart jumps just as high! And your spirit will soar when you get outside of the box! Jumping can come in all shapes, sizes and ways! Let’s go! Jump on my friends, jump on!