Kurth Reis is a man with a mission: to put a smile on as many faces in San Francisco as he can. How he works to accomplish that mission is simple: He makes bubbles.
Reis’ life has not always had this purpose. He served in the military, and then ran afoul of the law before serving time in prison. A motorcycle accident later put him in the hospital for 88 days. He looks at that time in the hospital as a turning point.
His girlfriend bought Kurth a bubble-making gun for Easter. He really got into it and improvised the gun and the soapy mixture so that he could produce bubbles the size of a compact car. He sets out often on a tricycle, making bubbles as he goes and bringing smiles to the faces of many. Some have told him that his art was a needed light in a dark time of their life.
Reis’ mission reminds me of another man who set out to make the world a better place. John Chapman roamed the countryside in the early days of America, planting apple trees wherever he went. Like Reis, Johnny Appleseed was selfless, and his efforts blessed many, many others.
I have no plans to roam the countryside, and I’m not very good at making bubbles. But perhaps I can find ways to share some of the joy that fills my heart as a follower of Jesus Christ. Joy is something the world can certainly use more of.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice,” wrote Paul in Philippians 4:4. Joy is one of the benefits of living the principles of the kingdom of heaven. In Christ we know we are forgiven of our sins; we learn how to live with each other more harmoniously; and we know that an eternity of bliss lies ahead. If you read the New Testament closely, you’ll find many other reasons to have joy if you embrace this life.
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Once the joy is inside of us, we are called to share it with others. Acts 2:46,47 describes this mark of the first Christians: “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people …” Note that description of what would otherwise be ordinary activities: “glad and generous hearts”. That’s part of the difference Christ makes in our lives.
In the next chapter of Acts Peter encounters a beggar, to whom the apostle says, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you …” (Acts 3:6). On that day he miraculously healed the lame man. I don’t have that power to heal others, but I have power to make the lives of others brighter and more hopeful. Often all it takes is a smile.
Matthew 5:13-16 is a familiar passage in which Christians are told that they are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”. Both salt and light make a difference for the better when they are applied to the lives of others. But that’s the question: Am I taking my ability to make lives better and applying it to others? Can others see my life bubbling with joy?
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Copyright, 2021, Timothy D. Hall
