Lent 2013

Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.  For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime.  Weeping may linger for the night but joy comes with the morning.  Psalm 30:4-5

JOY is what makes life worth living, but for many joy seems hard to find.  Some complain that their lives are only sorrowful and depressing.  What then brings the joy we so desire?  Are some people just lucky, while others have run out of luck?  Strange as it may sound, we can choose joy.  Two people can be part of the same event, but they may choose to live it quite differently.  One may choose to trust that what happened holds a promise.  The other may choose despair and be destroyed by it.  What makes us human is precisely this freedom of choice.

JOY and sorrow are never separated.  When our hearts rejoice at a spectacular view, we may miss our friends who cannot see it, and when we are overwhelmed with grief, we may discover what true friendship is all about.  Joy is hidden in sorrow and sorrow in joy.  If we  try to avoid sorrow at all costs, we may never taste joy.   Joy and sorrow are the parents of our spiritual growth.

Today, strive to embrace your joys as well as your sorrows.