advent09 | having it out with Joy

I have to admit, Joy week and I have had a personal conflict of sorts and are struggling to piece our relationship back together.

It could be because school vacations -- in our house at least -- are more synonymous with "chaos" or "irritability" than "joy".

It could be because I was reminded this week that all is not right in the world, that there are messed up people who leave confusion and pain in their wake and that sad things happen to even the most wonderful of people.

It could be because I've been more tired than usual, I think from the faster pace of my previous couple weeks.

Either way, I was sitting there on Tuesday night, grumpy and depressed, thinking "Wow. I am just SO glad it's Joy week."

I don't really know how you apply joy in those situations. I felt like what I needed most was Love and a spirit of grace for my family. Or maybe Hope that this too would pass. In precisely 12 days when my kids would be back in school.

And I don't know what you do about others' sorrow. Because it certainly doesn't seem appropriate to find Joy there. I mean, I don't think God feels any joy about it. I can see finding Joy in your own sorrows, but how does the concept of Joy -- just Joy -- apply concerning others' sorrows? Does it?

So that was the little tussle I had with Joy. Feeling like it wasn't always applicable. Feeling like it is a response to an already existing truth, but a little weak on its own. Feeling like there's not much of a grandly complex theological concept behind it. That all may be true of Joy. But that doesn't mean we can't get along, that it has nothing to offer.

Joy doesn't initiate, it responds. It's not a cause, it's an effect. An effect of having and receiving. Joy comes from what we have -- tangible things bring a temporary variety and intangible things the everlasting sort. All season long I've had joy: how can you consider Hope and not experience joy? Or dwell on the peace we have with God and not want to dance? Or be in God's presence made possible by his gift of love and remain unmoved? Or engage in love with God's family and not be full and happy?

And those things cannot be taken (John 16.22). Saddness arises from loss. I might lose hope in a dream, that may bring saddness, but simply reflecting on Hope -- the Promise we've been given -- restores joy. Whatever losses we face, they are counteracted by the Gift of Jesus that was given 2000 years ago and cannot be taken from us.

So today, for now, I have joy in the Gift. The Gift that was given to me, the Gift that was given to the world.