Joy-

I was responding to a friend's Facebook Note on joy (asking for a definition) so I thought I'd post it here.

My short definition is:

Joy is sturdy happiness.

I think it points off the map to the Divine. 

Sometimes we have sparks of joy. Perhaps seeing the innocence in our children when we play with them in an unguarded moment, or in a perfect sunset, or some beautiful simple pleasure we love. It is not circumstantial, but exists under and even through the ups and downs of life's curvy road. And no, we don't always sense it, but when we rest in it, my goodness, what a blessing.

A Joy to be With

Tony Snow died at age 53 a few days ago. One of the things I read that was both inspiring and memorable was that his colleagues said he was a joy to work with, even when his was ill.

It made me wonder if Christians you know are like this? Do people in general think of Christians this way? According to Dan Kimball, in general, no. There are a bunch of adjectives--most of them are really negative--and "joy" doesn't make the list.

If I went to interview the colleagues of first fifty people to read this, would they say you were a "joy to work with". Would someone say of me? (I hope so. Yikes.)

Joy can be the endangered specie character quality in our day and in our culture, and with the luxuries we've come to have as ordinary, it is a bit odd. I can begin to figure out, and elaborate on all the reasons why this is so, but if we can access more joy and express more joy, and be more of a joy to be with, like Tony Snow was in his short life, then how nice!