We all want joy in our lives, sometimes desperately. Our culture tells us that finding joy is easy. Just open your wallet and buy the latest gadget, car, home, or pill, and happiness will be yours. Happiness comes, say our advertisers, with only five easy payments! Have you tried that approach? Of course you have, we all have in one way or another. And we've all found that the happiness our culture proclaims is ours for the taking is a fleeting and fragile thing. Shiny new gadgets become obsolete, cars rust, homes need repairs or become too small for a growing family, and the pill ... well, let's not even go there. I picked up a few books at the seminary the other day. Among them was Unexpected Joy by John DeVries. In 1986, Reverend DeVries wrote, "Joy enters our life 'through the back door.' The more you search for joy and happiness, the less likely you are to find it. The more you forget about yourself and give yourself to others, the more you are surprised by joy. Joy never comes in the front door; it sneaks in the back door. True joy comes as a surprise." (p. 11)
I wasn't expecting that from a free book in a used book pile. It was a pleasant surprise. It's good advice too, biblically centered and proven sound by generations of Christians globally. So, given we've tried everything else, how about following Reverend DeVries' advice. Give yourself to others and see if joy doesn't just sneak up on you while you are busy lending someone else a helping hand.
God bless you ... and good luck!
No comments:
Post a Comment