There are many reasons for anxiety and discontent out there these days. Perhaps that’s why my eye was attracted this evening to the following headline at CBCnews.ca: "Joy to the world is contagious: study." According to the study, we’re more likely to be happy if we are connected to other people who are happy. In fact, researchers say, "Whether you're happy depends not just on your own actions and behaviours and thoughts, but on those of people you don't even know."
If that could be true, I wondered, what are the ways I can imagine growing the joy around me? At home I need to remember that immediate circumstances that can annoy me or try my patience are temporary – I love the members of my family and need to communicate to them (more than I maybe do) the incredible joy I experience being part of their lives. At the office, I can express my appreciation for the good work of my colleagues and be more encouraging as we share common goals. In my congregational context, I would like to express my gratitude more openly for those who have taken on leadership roles to administer, challenge and nurture our life together. And in general, I can smile more often, say thank you more genuinely, and notice all of the ways the people around me, including strangers, share their joy.
Maybe paying attention like this is precisely the way I can prepare my heart to give Jesus room this Advent season…and heav’n and nature sing!
2 comments:
No doubt about it!
We all should be paying more attention to the people around us and spread the joy of the Good News with way more enthusiasm!
Who has more reason to be joyful than a Christian?
So lets go out there and spread JOY!
Thanks for this reminder of our choices in joy. We can choose to look for joy around us, and respond to others in joy, trusting that God will keep it alive and bringing new energy to all of God's creation.
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