“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” -Galatians 5:22-23
I recently made a visit to OU Children’s Hospital. As I walked through the atrium at the hospital entrance, I was thinking only of the family I was about to visit. I walked to the volunteer’s desk and asked for the patient’s room number. I was warmly greeted. They gave me a room number and directions. I was told which elevator would get me where I needed to go. I walked down a long hallway until I found the right elevator. I pressed the button to open the elevator doors, and when the doors opened, I was met by someone unexpected.
Few things can catch me by surprise, but when the elevator doors opened, I was greeted by Batman. This Batman was unlike anything I had imagined the Dark Knight to be in real life. He was only about 3 feet tall. He was not ready to fight crime in the city. He had a bag in his hand and was prepared to go trick or treating. Soon, we were joined by a Disney princess and her family. I had almost forgotten that it was Halloween.
As I made my way through the halls of the hospital, I saw so many children dressed in costumes. They were accompanied by family, nurses, and staff. The hospital had set up a day to bring joy to the young patients. The Cheer, Pom, and the RUF/NEKS from the University of Oklahoma had come to help make the day special for the children and their families.
The hospital works hard to make days like this memorable for their patients and families. They do advanced planning, including collecting costumes for those who don’t have one, and while they are celebrating, they still provide exceptional medical care.
I don’t always find unexpected joy in a hospital visit, but this day I did. From the opening of that elevator to the time I left, I saw people experiencing joy amid health struggles. When we are intentional about being kind, we can bring joy to others. The opportunities to do good are all around us. Our kindness can bring light in the darkness and joy in life’s challenging moments. Seeing Batman brought a smile to my face. What kindness can we perform today that will bring joy to our world?
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
