Noticing...Naming Joy Here and Now

 

 

One of the ways I believe we can hold the creative tension between what is and what we pray could be is to be alert and aware of how joy is woven into our lives.  We are called to live in a  non-dualistic way between the storms and sacredness of life.  We are invited to cultivate and tend joy.  Joy doesn’t just happen.  To be sure, joy can arrive unannounced at our door…but if we are waiting around for joy, sometimes it is negativity and pain that want to keep us company.  Where our attention goes, there our energy flows.  If I am only giving my attention to what is wrong and never also hold what is right, that weighs down my soul.  Often we make our joy dependent on something else or someone else.  Ever find yourself saying, “I’ll be joyful when…”?  Joy paves the way each moment of the day. Matheson, whose hymn we have heard this week, could have just thrown in the towel and thought, “Oh well, I am blind, guess I can’t be a preacher.”  We also learned this week that Matheson’s sisters where his eyes and helped him out.  Matheson could have just said, “This pain will never end!”  Rather than writing the hymn we’ve prayed this week ~ which remember took him five minutes.  We need others.  In fact, joy and hope and love are always best cultivated and curated in community. 

 

If you would like some prompts on what might bring joy know this: February 11^th, tomorrow, is

~ National don’t cry over spilled milk day

~ National inventors’ day

~ National make a friend day

~ National peppermint patty day

~ National shut-on visitation day

~ National white shirt day.

 

Whew.  Who knew??  That seems like a lot for one day, so let’s spread the love and joy.  Today, you could go buy some peppermint patties and take them to someone who is shut in while wearing a white shirt.  OR you could be curious about your favorite invention and do some reading about who created it and how it works.  OR you could call your friend or reach out to a new friend.  May today you find amazing ways to explore and experience the Eternal who is calling us to creativity and joyfully shine our lights, because God’s love never lets us go.  Remember, if you spill milk today or tomorrow, try to laugh as you grab the paper towels.  Amen.