Variety: Luke 2:10-11

10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  (Luke 2:10-11) 

NASA’s billion-dollar biscuit break
How Artemis II’s lesser-known mission can keep us all on course 

The crew lost contact as the far side of the moon came into view. They were the furthest humans have ever been from Earth. They had just 40 minutes to capture critical data. Where did they start?

They ate cookies!

Surely this was the time to get on with the job? Tens of thousands of people involved, years in the making, an estimated $39bn. Yet they took a moment for fun.

This wasn’t an anomaly. It was the crew’s established way of working. As astronaut Jeremy Hansen explained, ‘We have a term we coined a long time ago: the “joy train.” There are many times we’re not on the joy train, but we’re committed to getting back on.’

Imagine being stuck in a space-going campervan with three colleagues for 10 days. I’d lose my smile fast. But in that capsule, the crew hunted Easter eggs, ate ‘Orbit’ chewing gum, and made spoof videos.

You and I may not be on a lunar voyage, but we have a mission as transcendent as Artemis II’s. Whether we’re on Zoom, caring for family, or fixing pipes, we are part of a history-defining team. The head of the cosmos says we’re to be salt and light in the world (John 15:13–14). Christians are boots on the ground, pointing to God’s new creation with faith, hope and love.

Like a teaspoon of salt or a tea-light, the good news is, a little goes a long way. When work feels tough, when our crew has different priorities or difficult attitudes, it’s then that small moments of joy make a big difference.

I used to work in live radio. It was fast-paced and pressured. The odd mistake was inevitable – but still felt rubbish. But a colleague had created the ‘Stubbins Award’. If you slipped up, you were cheered and got the trophy. I was the proud recipient more than once. Fear was turned to fun.

Jesus’ mission was on an Interstellar scale – ‘save humanity in three years.’ But he too had time for joy. He BBQed, celebrated weddings, and was a comedic storyteller – imagine walking around with a plank in your eye (Matthew 7:3–5)! His arrival was announced as ‘good news of great joy’ (Luke 2:10). Through his life and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled his destiny as a joy bringer. Now we’re invited to join him.

How can you make time for small regular moments of joy this week? What fun can you join in with?

London Institute for Contemporary Christianity