“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” Thich Nhat Hanh
The minute the guitarist took the first strum on the guitar the kids jumped to their feet and screamed with great adulation. And then in as much harmony as a large room of excitable youngins can create they began to belt out,
“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart;
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay!”
Nothing evokes a smile, and a sense of joy, like being surrounded by an exuberant group of kiddos singing about joy! There is something about witnessing joy in others that is contagious. In fact, that sense of utter happiness and delight can often be quite transformative.
As my friend and colleague Ketlen Solak offered recently in a sermon, “Joy is not merely related to our mood but is in God – consisting of a deep gladness grounded in God’s faithfulness.” This connectivity between joy and God’s faithfulness maybe best articulated when Jesus shares with his disciples about abiding in his love and in doing so, “…my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11) Complete, from the Greek word plēroō: bringing something to fullness.
Joy is contagious, it connects us and completes us. It is a part of God’s faithfulness in providing us not only happiness and deep gladness but also strength and courage.
“In your presence is the fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11)
BP