There’s much to lament in this world. Every day offers a hundred reasons to cry. But, I also believe every day offers at least a hundred reasons to laugh or sing or make love or give an extra big tip or do something that costs you much – but brings a revelry all its own because you feel the pleasure of having done right, done well.
If it is the easy thing for us to slap a cheery word on top of misery, then we need to connect with the reality of sorrow. But if it is the easy thing for us to wallow in dismay, then we need to jump heavy into joy.
For many of us, joy is the harder effort, certainly is for me. I’m not sure why. Perhaps we have been disappointed too often. Perhaps we are comfortable in the gloom. Perhaps we don’t have eyes to see or ears to hear what the Apostle John calls the “river of joy overflowing.”
The good news is you can find joy just about anywhere. For instance, this week I found joy in my seven-year-old:
Seth: Par Fat? Par Fat?? Mom, this is going to make me fat?!?
Miska: No, Seth, that’s Parfait. Parfait.
Joy can surprise you at any turn. Watch for it. I’ll bet you find it.