Finding Joy
To help support one another through this moment in history, I draw on the wisdom of Valarie Kaur, social activist and founder of The Revolutionary Love Project. The project inspires and equips people to build beloved community where they are, centered around an ethic of love.
Finding Joy this holiday season may be difficult for some than others. People with marginalized identities are living in fear of future legislation that already threatens their freedom and safety. When we do not resonate with the life experience of others, a Revolutionary Love calls upon us to Wonder. To Wonder is to cultivate a sense of awe and openness to the experiences of others, to listen to their pain, their needs, and desires. Wonder brings us the humility we need to recognize other people are as complex and infinite as we are. Wonder gives us information on how to love and care for each other. It is the wellspring of love.
When we resonate with a sense of dread about the future, Kaur’s Revolutionary Love invites us to find Joy. To find Joy means to find what gives us hope, reminds us of possibility, and gives our life purpose. Joy goes beyond simple happiness. Joy carries us through the darkness and uncertainty and makes us want to keep going. What brings us Joy and light does not need to be complicated or profound. It can be as simple as admiring the delicate beauty of a bird at a feeder, delighting in the laughter of a child, wearing a favorite sweater, or breathing in the fresh outdoor air. Kaur tells us,
To let in Joy is to give our senses over to what is beautiful, delightful, pleasurable, or wondrous in the present moment. Joy is the gift of love. It returns us to everything good and beautiful and worth fighting for.
If the aim of oppression is to deprive us of Joy, then finding Joy in the midst of fear and uncertainty is an act of resistance.
May the Gifts of Wonder and Joy Be Yours This Holiday Season!
Much Love,
Rev. Beau
Finding the Light in Little Things
by Garima Sharma
In a world that can feel tough and grey,
Finding joy may seem far away.
But fear not, for a secret lies,
In small moments, a precious prize.
Believe in the magic that’s all around,
In the simple gestures that may astound.
For life’s goodness, it may yet reveal,
When you pay attention and mindfully feel.
Embrace the beauty of tiny pleasures,
The suns’ gentle warmth and nature’s treasures.
From laughter shared to a tender touch,
These moments remind us life means so much.
Shift perspectives and, with hope, decree,
The world isn’t as terrible as it seems to be.
Choose gratitude, find reasons to adore,
And watch darkness fade, replace by more.
So, cherish the small moments each day,
And let the world’s troubles softly sway.
Embrace the goodness that life can bring
In little things, find joy’s sweet symphony.
