When Hoyt Axton brought his now-famous anthem to the members of Three Dog Night, two of them immediately rejected it as a kid’s song, far from appropriate for an adult rock band. But Chuck Negron saw something different: an opportunity for silliness to bring his band back together with the joy they had been missing. And the rest is history.
Jeremiah was a bullfrog
was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word he said
but I helped him a-drink his wine
(And he always had some mighty fine wine!)
What is it about Joy to the World that draws us in? It certainly isn’t complex musically or particularly original – after all, Christians have sung “joy to the world” for generations! I think it’s the surprise of the opening line that captures our attention. When Axton first brought the song, it began by saying that “Jeremiah was a prophet.” But Negron quickly flipped that right over, turning Jeremiah into a bullfrog, and surprising us all with the opening belt of joy.
In Ingrid Fetell Lee’s book, Joyful, she says that there are ten “aesthetics of joy,” elements that inherently create that spark that we cannot grasp on our own. And one of those is surprise. “Joyful surprises bring our attention away from ourselves and back into the world,” she writes, “prompting us to approach and engage. They incite curiosity, spur exploration, and increase the changes we’ll interact with others in ways that keep the positive vibes flowing.”
God is full of surprises. In one instance, a trio of messengers tells an elderly Abraham that his wife Sarah is going to have a baby. Sarah, listening from behind the tent door, laughs, thinking, “I’m no longer able to have children, and my husband is old!” God is so full of surprises that it brings tears laughter to her eyes! And when Isaac is born, she continues to rejoice, saying, “God has given me laughter. Everyone who hears about it will laugh with me.” (Gn 21:6)
When was the last time you were surprised? What was your reaction? Depending on the moment, surprises can make us confused, startled, excited, or amazed. I often find the most joy in small surprises, like getting a whiff of my hand lotion in the middle of a busy day or spotting a sunset on my drive home. These moments wake me up and remind me to get out of my head and appreciate all that God has placed right in front of me.
Our God is faithful, steady, and full of love. But that doesn’t keep God from being full of surprises! May you look for those moments where God is surprising you with joy, and may you be ready to laugh with delight at all that comes your way.
What do you think? What brings you joy?
Let me know in the comments!
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Rev. Carissa Surber is passionate about having deep conversations with everyday people about what vibrant Christian living looks like in the 21st century. She enjoys singing, dancing, board games, and hiking with her family. Read more here