I recently had an opportunity to talk
with a woman who was filled with joy.
She had this wonderful enthusiasm for life, and I was blessed to be in her
presence. However, as I spoke with her,
I started to wonder where all her joy came from. She had faced a number of very grim moments in
her life, and her difficulties seemed to follow her wherever she went. Nevertheless, in her darkest times, she
always found ways to connect with other people.
She made choices to volunteer and meet others in the community. This has not always been easy, but it has
created a wonderful network of friends. These
people were imperfect, but they stood by each other. They took time to serve. They took time to love, and they took time to
find joy even in moments of sorrow…
Her story was a reminder for me that
joy doesn’t come from being perfect. Perfection
would certainly be nice, but joy is a choice that we can make in the face of our
difficulties. If we take time to see
love and grace in other people, I believe we will find joy.
This week we are celebrating the Reformation
of the Church. The Reformation
celebrates God’s Spirit working, through the darkness, to bring hope. It is my prayer that we would all allow God’s
Spirit to move in us. May we be drawn
into caring relationships that are filled with hope. May we also choose joy wherever life may lead
us…
Blessings,
PB
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