JOYF TO THE WORLD ~ Greg J

Shortly before Thanksgiving I walked into a nearby public park and found elves in traditional green deploying the following message of Christmas cheer:      JOYF!

Country music lyrics occurred to me:

HOW KIN I BE JOYFUL WITHOUT “U”?

The elves sprinted off to consult colleagues. I trailed them. Not far away was this station:

Of course these festive figures are present to help busy families insert themselves into a Merry Christmas photo. Text it to  grandma! Point out the “JOYF”, the palm trees, and citrus trees. These clearly say, “we're holly-jolly in southern California, which is more like Bethlehem than is Falls Church, Virginia."  

Across the green, tinsilated reindeer cheerfully warned children and adults:

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout—or we'll take your face!

Returning the next day, I found “JOYF” improved but still lacking. There had been a windy rainstorm in the night. The candy-cane-striped encouragement was now a little laid-back:

You may not know this:  “Joy-Fu” is a martial art like Kung-Fu.

Practitioners of Joy-Fu inflict unexpected hugs.

Karen, Betty, and Dwaine are Joy-Fu masters. Joy-Fu scriptures include these:

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
– Nehemiah chapter 8

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love,
any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind,
having the same love,
being in full accord
and of one mind.”
– Philippians chapter 2

In his autobiography, Surprised by Joy, C.S. Lewis talks more about English boarding schools than about the emotion of “joy”. Still, he makes a useful observation:

“I call it Joy, which is here a technical term and must be sharply distinguished both from Happiness and from Pleasure.  Joy (in my sense) has indeed one characteristic, and one only, in common with them; the fact that anyone who has experienced it will want it again.”

Some have said that Happiness depends on what happens, but Joy does not depend on circumstances. Often Joy can be my choice. “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” But that doesn't give me license to inflict my Joy on everyone, for example on mourners or on the clinically depressed. Rather, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”

What's your history with joy? Surely you want more. I find it in traditional seasons, in unexpected situations, in boisterous gatherings, in quiet reflection, in promises of future goodness. “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!”  New Testament instances and the Psalms have much to say about joy.

With the fallen “L” propped up, an honor guard of palms leads to the JOYFUL:

You shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace;
The mountains and hills will break forth before you;
There’ll be shouts of joy, and all the trees of the field
Will clap, will clap their hands!
(From Isaiah 55)

As Advent progresses into Christmas I am posting further reports from this joyful public place.