Cultivating Joy
Gratitude and Joy
The root of joy is gratefulness … It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.
- David Steindl-Rast, Benedictine monk
Earlier this year, while I (Gary) was visiting my then 88-year-old mom, we were talking about her two-mile-per day walking regime. She was telling me about all the people she’s met through the years as a result of being out and about—usually first thing in the morning. Because this is a neighborhood without sidewalks (a matter of concern for my sister and me, but not for her), mom often comments on how people look out for her and are considerate in the way they drive past.
Over the almost thirty years she’s been living there, she’s acquired the nickname “The Walking Lady.” She’s made some friends, helped some people along the way, and generally kept up with others in the neighborhood who live alone like she does.
Mom told me that during her walks she offers prayers for everyone she knows who are sick and alone, recites some of her favorite Bible verses, and sings hymns that have given her comfort through the years. She told me that part of what brings her joy on these daily walks is simply being grateful that at her age she is still able to be up and about at all!
“There’s always something to be grateful for,” she said. “All it takes is a willingness to look in the right places.”
In his reflection last Sunday, Randy Callender wrote, “Sometimes we complicate joy by thinking it requires grand gestures or perfect circumstances.” Maybe the reason we complicate joy is because we are looking in the wrong places to find it. Maybe finding joy is as simple as giving thanks for the wonder of life and the mystery of love. Starting now.
Making it Personal: Like “The Walking Lady,” how might you combine gratitude with your daily routines? Where might you find joy if you looked “in the right places” today? What simple wonder might you notice and appreciate right now?
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