Seeking the Sun and the SON

 

Seeing the sun and welcoming its warmth, I sat in a lawn chair just inside the entrance to my garage today. I felt such joy seeing all that snow gone. Ice persisted between the house and the outside garage, since the sidewalk is hidden from the sun by the shadow of the house. As ice melted, it really hung on. I took the “chipper” out and helped it along. I was careful not to lift it. That ice was at least two inches thick under the snow and it was heavy. I just chipped along the edges where it was melting, turning it into ice cubes that would maybe melt a little faster.

 

While the sun felt good then, it was nothing like today when I chatted with a friend distancing in a chair at the other side of the garage door, masked of course. It was a joy to have company. God is good, we know that. But sometimes when we live in the shadow of our lives, problems and uncontrollable events in the world, darkness intercedes on our joy. 

 

What brings us joy, anyway? Obviously it varies with individuals, but for me there are some things that are givens any day. Besides God and Jesus, family and friends, health is important. Even as we age and find ourselves unable to do what we used to, we can still have joy. In a fresh baby for new parents, a wedding for a loving couple, a doctor who helps, someone who listens, school children happy at recess, being able to be a help to someone who needs it, being asked for help can really bring joy.

 

What is joy, anyway? My dictionary defines it this way: “Middle English: from Old French joie, based on Latin gaudium, from gaudere ‘rejoice.’”  I believe joy is deeper than happiness and much less elusive. An old adage says: “Happiness is like a butterfly. If you pursue it, it will keep flying away, but if you sit still and wait, it will come and land on you.” We know who put the joy “down in our heart” and we can call upon it anytime. It’s always there if one loves the Lord.