The easiest way for me to see joy is outdoors with young children. They are full of wonder at the most ordinary things, the perfect leaf, an unblemished acorn, or even a blemished one. Running and falling in a pile of leaves can cause squeals of delight.
Karen, what wonderful glimpses and experiences of joy! For me, and this could be just because I am home for the holidays, I have been seeing joy in the way my mom and sister laugh at jokes and say funny things. There is a quality of true, deep down joy that just pierces through my all-too-often-cynical heart. They have an exceptional way of drawing others in by their warmth and breaking down any awkwardness with their humor. I am a better, more joyful person because of that :)
“Light writes white” is a pithy quote but oftentimes feel true. Christian Wiman noticed this problem in the written world, specifically in modern poetry, and decided to wrestle with it by compiling an anthology, which he simply titled “Joy.” His introduction is crushing and honest, full of the conflict you mention, but also acquiescing joy can look like many things, and is often itself full of conflict. My husband I return to his work and its poems continually, especially when our world feels joyless, and we’ve shared it with friends. Perhaps it might also help you find and write the joy so easily overlooked.
Okay I have seen that book SO many times and haven't bought it yet but it is now on my list! His "My Bright Abyss" is one of my all-time favorite books, and I have Zero at the Bone on my list as well. Have you read that one yet? This is a bit trivial, but I recently signed up for a new internet service and got a $200 Amazon gift card, and I think both of those books will be the first to be purchased!
I have read and would love to revisit “Abyss,” but I have yet to pick up any of his poetry! I will be using some of my Christmas money, ha, to buy some new books of poetry! You will not be disappointed with “Joy.” I’m sure it will serve you well for many years to come, as it has us.
PS—I greatly appreciate your reply! I know you do not pay much attention to comments. I feel so honored.
I used to find it hard to write about joy but then a dear mentor gave me new perspective about writing joyously through life’s eternal sunrise each and everyday- how that changed everything for me and my writing.
Hi Drew, I really appreciate your writing - your honesty and desire to honor God. This is a great post. I can relate. It's true - it is easier to write about sorrow than joy. I have also been through seasons of "fake joy" and, in an attempt to be more honest, have sometimes swung to the opposite extreme on the pendulum. It's true that we are called to rejoice and to count it all joy when we encounter trials of various kinds (James 1:2-4). Also, to your question about the Psalms...Psalm 39 is a rather curious one. Verse 7 says that the psalmist is hoping in God. The psalm ends on a really curious note: "Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!" Not really sure what's going on here, but it sounds like the psalmist is wanting the absence of God's gaze because he thinks this will make him happy. And then he's going to die. Not exactly "the darkness is my closest friend" ending of Psalm 88. But, kind of close. Anyway, just wanted to mention Psalm 39. So glad that God put the whole range of human emotion in the psalms! It's wonderful. Your writing encourages me - thank you!
The easiest way for me to see joy is outdoors with young children. They are full of wonder at the most ordinary things, the perfect leaf, an unblemished acorn, or even a blemished one. Running and falling in a pile of leaves can cause squeals of delight.
Karen, what wonderful glimpses and experiences of joy! For me, and this could be just because I am home for the holidays, I have been seeing joy in the way my mom and sister laugh at jokes and say funny things. There is a quality of true, deep down joy that just pierces through my all-too-often-cynical heart. They have an exceptional way of drawing others in by their warmth and breaking down any awkwardness with their humor. I am a better, more joyful person because of that :)
“Light writes white” is a pithy quote but oftentimes feel true. Christian Wiman noticed this problem in the written world, specifically in modern poetry, and decided to wrestle with it by compiling an anthology, which he simply titled “Joy.” His introduction is crushing and honest, full of the conflict you mention, but also acquiescing joy can look like many things, and is often itself full of conflict. My husband I return to his work and its poems continually, especially when our world feels joyless, and we’ve shared it with friends. Perhaps it might also help you find and write the joy so easily overlooked.
Okay I have seen that book SO many times and haven't bought it yet but it is now on my list! His "My Bright Abyss" is one of my all-time favorite books, and I have Zero at the Bone on my list as well. Have you read that one yet? This is a bit trivial, but I recently signed up for a new internet service and got a $200 Amazon gift card, and I think both of those books will be the first to be purchased!
I have read and would love to revisit “Abyss,” but I have yet to pick up any of his poetry! I will be using some of my Christmas money, ha, to buy some new books of poetry! You will not be disappointed with “Joy.” I’m sure it will serve you well for many years to come, as it has us.
PS—I greatly appreciate your reply! I know you do not pay much attention to comments. I feel so honored.
I just bought it too! Thank you for the recommendation!
I used to find it hard to write about joy but then a dear mentor gave me new perspective about writing joyously through life’s eternal sunrise each and everyday- how that changed everything for me and my writing.
Hi Drew, I really appreciate your writing - your honesty and desire to honor God. This is a great post. I can relate. It's true - it is easier to write about sorrow than joy. I have also been through seasons of "fake joy" and, in an attempt to be more honest, have sometimes swung to the opposite extreme on the pendulum. It's true that we are called to rejoice and to count it all joy when we encounter trials of various kinds (James 1:2-4). Also, to your question about the Psalms...Psalm 39 is a rather curious one. Verse 7 says that the psalmist is hoping in God. The psalm ends on a really curious note: "Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!" Not really sure what's going on here, but it sounds like the psalmist is wanting the absence of God's gaze because he thinks this will make him happy. And then he's going to die. Not exactly "the darkness is my closest friend" ending of Psalm 88. But, kind of close. Anyway, just wanted to mention Psalm 39. So glad that God put the whole range of human emotion in the psalms! It's wonderful. Your writing encourages me - thank you!