A Good Day
We might associate joy with big, sweeping, grand moments but today as I reflected on what my joy was I came to the simple conclusion that I am simply grateful to have had a good day. I am grateful that I have come to the end of the day and feel good. Today was just a good, fairly uneventful day and perhaps that is one of the biggest gifts.
Today what brought me joy was having a day that was pretty standard. I was able to have two cups of tea. I journaled for the first time in several days and it connected me to God in a familiar and comforting way. I moved through the day with intentionality and without being rushed. I got to come home and do yoga, eat dinner with Will and now we are watching TV together.
This Lenten practice is a chance for me to find God in all the moments of my life. There is immense suffering and bad happening in this world—my heart and mind are weary and this is why I chose to look for joy. It feels a bit uncomfortable to do so, sometimes I have to wonder if I am being foolish or insensitive to look for joy. Yet, my heart and mind cannot survive if I only focus on the bad happening in this wounded world.
Let it be known, I am not afraid of sitting in the dark, the suffering, the hurt and I experience God in those spaces time and time again. I also know there is still beauty, kindness, love, and so much joy to be experienced in this world and that God can and does meet us in those moments too. I am aware of the privileged position I am in and am constantly working to recognize how that impacts me and others. I am grateful I am able to put on a Lenten practice like this one, that I am in the privileged position to be able to.
I am choosing to not take it for granted. Instead to realize that this position is a gift and I can practice gratitude by looking for the joy, allowing it to fill me, nourish me, and strengthen me to continue on this journey and to meet people where they are at and help in whatever ways I might be able to.
Searching for the joy is challenging me to rely on God in all things—the good and the bad and trust that God can and does provide.
