Cultivating Joy
Choosing Joy
Joy does not simply happen to us.
We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.
- Henri Nouwen
A few years ago our now eight-year-old grandson was visiting and he found an unused paint stick (the kind you use to stir a new can of paint) in a drawer. He was thrilled by it, and together we made up a game that entertained us both for quite some time. The challenge was to imagine how many different things the stick could be, and then act out each one.
Predictably, he first saw the stick as a sword or light saber, and pretended to be a Jedi knight. Soon we were transforming that simple wooden paint stick into a diving board, a teeter totter, pencil, baseball bat, javelin, rocket, stick person, airplane wing, slide, and flag pole. We lost track of time as we reveled in our silliness.
Joy is like that. Sometimes we have to improvise and find it in the most surprising places. So as we focus this week on cultivating joy in our lives, let’s not wait for joy to come to us. Instead, let’s look for moments to notice it or create it. You may not have a paint stick handy, but there are no doubt other simple ways you can cultivate joy.
Making It Personal: Can you think of a simple, unexpected experience of joy that you either created or experienced recently? Is there something simple you can do or see this week for yourself or with another that will cultivate joy?
Listen To Our Lent Podcast Episodes
We also invite you to listen to the Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness Podcast hosted by Scott Stoner. This is a year-round, weekly podcast; however, during Lent, there will be two new episodes each week to enrich your experience of our Lenten readings on Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit.
You can listen to the podcast on our website by clicking HERE. You can also find this podcast in your favorite podcast listening app (Apple, Google, Spotify, etc.)—just search for Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness