Become New with John Ortberg 40. Why (and How) to Be Jolly
Oct 1, 2021
A lively dive into finding joy amid suffering through stories from Dickens and Scripture. The conversation spotlights Mark Tapley’s odd determination to stay jolly in hardship and how caring for others reshapes character. It connects suffering to endurance, hope, and unexpected transformation. The message urges trusting through trials to become a blessing to others.
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Mark Tapley Seeking a Worthy Trial
- John Ortberg recounts Charles Dickens' Mark Tapley who constantly sought situations so dire that being cheerful would be praiseworthy.
- Tapley serves Martin Chuzzlewit, stays generous while seasick and lowly, always hoping for a trial that proves his jolliness.
Tapley Shows Cheer Amid Epidemic and Loss
- Ortberg narrates Tapley and Chuzzlewit's American misadventure where Tapley nurses others through seasickness and epidemic despite his own illness.
- Tapley writes 'jolly' on a slate while near death, hoping finally to earn credit for cheer amid true suffering.
Chuzzlewit's Moment Of Conversion
- Ortberg describes Martin Chuzzlewit's conversion moment when he recognizes Tapley's generosity exposes his own selfishness.
- Dickens' scene shows the 'curtain rises' on Chuzzlewit's selfhood, prompting surrender and real moral change.
