As I arrived at my son's cub scout meeting last night to pick him up I noticed the whole group outside on the lawn laughing and cheering in a tight group.  I was a bit confused about what must be happening.  So, I parked and eased up to the crowd and peaked over the shoulders only to see a grown man in a uniform sitting in a chair with whip cream all over his face.  The scout leaders were taking turns letting the scouts pie them in the face.  The meeting was over soon after and I didn't really have a chance to figure out the reason behind what they were doing, but I do know that everyone was smiling - I could even see the smile on the leader through the whip cream.

There is beauty in selfless joy.  The experience of letting those kids cover their leaders' faces in whip cream was likely as awesome for the leaders as it was for the scouts.  I have several theories on why this is so edifying.  First, making kids laugh is great fun.  I love making my kids laugh and watching kids have fun is sure to lighten anyone's spirits.  Second, selflessness makes us feel good.  I have said before that as we are made in the image of God, whenever we treat others as God desires for us to, we tap into something deep down that is part of the essential nature God gave us from the very start.  Last, and possibly least obvious but most deeply true, selflessness reminds us that we have a God that came into the world as one of us and humbled himself for us to know him.  God showed us his own selflessness in coming into our midst and it is joyful to act in a way that reflects how God acts towards us. 

I pray that as we head towards Thanksgiving we will all have a chance to experience the selfless joy of God and share it with others.