By Marek Zabriskie
Author Anne Lamott says her image of God was that of “a frowning high school principal in a grey suit who never remembered your name but was always leafing unhappily through your files to find something to justify roasting you.”
Likewise, the great Christian writer C.S. Lewis claims that he grew up thinking of God as “the Great Kill-Joy, who if He ever found anyone having a good time, put a stop to such nonsense as quickly as possible.”
Yet, Lewis came to see the hand of God present in his life and in the world. He chose the word joy to describe these events. When he wrote his autobiography, he entitled it Surprised by Joy. “Joy,” he believed, was the ever-present, central quality in all forms of religious experience.
Happiness comes and goes. It’s often the result of something external. The weather is good. Someone gave me a gift. I won the lottery. But joy is internal, abiding and often the result of getting our spirit in synch with God and others.
Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Joy is at the heart of what God longs for everyone.
The words “joy,” “joyous,” “joyful,” “joyfulness” and “joyfully” appear 186 times in the Bible. Joy comes to the old and the young alike. It comes from living in accord with God’s will, which includes justice and mercy. Joy doesn’t come naturally. We have to work at it.
This is particular important at this time of year, when the sun sets earlier and the days are shorter. It’s easy for depression to set in. The time leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas is especially difficult for those who have lost loved ones.
The live world is also filled with pain right now. The war in Ukraine lingers on. The Ukrainians desperately need our support and should not be forgotten or abandoned unless we want every free nation be subject to invasion.
The world is reeling from Hamas’ horrific attack on October 7, killing over 1,400 people and taking over 200 hostages. Each day, Israeli missiles destroy more of the Gaza Strip, killing over 10,000 civilians while Israeli Settlers in the Occupied West Bank have killed over 120 Palestinian civilians since the Hamas attack. We wonder how it will all end and how we can help.
Then there was the tragic mass shooting of 18 people in Maine by a mentally ill serviceman. We have read about so many mass shootings and have permitted the mass proliferation of guns that we now take for assume that horrific things like this will be part of normal American life.
Truly, this is a dark time, a hard time, a time when the joy of life is under attack. How can we find, sustain, and share our joy? Here are twelve tips:
• Live in the present moment. Don’t let the past drag you down and the future paralyze you. Both God and joy can only be found in the present. Dwell in the here and now.
• Lead a balanced life. You may never be rich or famous, but if you lead a balanced life you will find great joy. Balance is at the heart of the Benedictine tradition going back to the 5th century. Living a balanced life is about having a full, wonderful, rich life.
• Devote yourself to friendship, family and spending time with uplifting and inspiring people. Hope and joy are contagious. We are social animals. Invest in human interaction. Write notes and letters. Make phone calls to stay in touch. Share what’s going on in your life and listen attentively. Celebrate life with those you love.
• Spend reflective time in prayer. William James described prayer as “a conversation with the ultimate partner.” Prayer connects us with our Creator. Your time in silence and solitude before God will put your life and problems in perspective and fill your spirit.
• Read a little bit of Scripture each day. Never underestimate how God can transform your life with a single word or a verse from the Bible.
• Spent time in nature. Walk. Garden. Sit on a bench. Enjoy the beauty of creation. Enjoy the change of seasons. Spend time outdoors. Let nature illuminate and ground your life.
• Exercise. We are stewards of our body. Exercise reduces stress, helps us to process grief, gets us out of our heads and into our body, allows us to sleep better and to stay healthy.
• Serve others. Find a cause that is important. Contribute in whatever way that you can. If you are too infirm to get about, then pray for those undergoing trials and challenges. There is never a moment when we cannot contribute.
• Travel, study and learn. Expand your knowledge. Stretch your mind. Exercise your brain. Read interesting books. Exercise your brain.
• Focus on beauty. Art, music, and literature are as essential as sunlight. They illumine our spirit and call forth the best from within us.
• Refrain from an overload of negative news. There’s an old news adage: “If it bleeds, it leads.” Avoid any cable news programs that leave you feeling fearful or enraged.
• Finally, practice generosity. Generosity and joy are inseparable. The happiest people are often the most generous, while the most miserable are often greedy and self-centered.
Make room for joy, especially during this challenging time for our world.
The Rev. Marek Zabriskie is Rector of Christ Church Greenwich.
