May 9, 2018
The Quest for Joy
I started reading Richard Rohr's On the Threshold of Transformation , a book of daily meditations for men. (I don't really care for men's spirituality, but I like Richard Rohr, so I guess that's a healthy balance.)

One of the first questions he asks is "Do I see my life as a noble quest that brings meaning and purpose?" ( On the Threshold of Transformation, p. 5). "Sure," I said to myself, "why not?"

The question that came next--not from Richard Rohr, but from the Holy Spirit--gave me pause: "Then what is it that you are looking for?"

As I pondered that question the rest of the morning, I seemed to have settled on an answer: joy. And the more I thought about my quest for joy, I realized that I can find joy in four places.

  1. Joy is found in communion. Joy is not something experienced in isolation. The quest for joy does not lead me to discover pleasures to delight in myself; it leads me to a place where I can share joy with others. The quest for joy is a quest that seeks relationships with others.
  2. Joy is found in patience. To find true and perfect joy, I must first find patience and magnanimity. If I try to seek a happiness by excluding dissatisfaction, I will be led down a path of suffering. Instead, I must learn how to accept life's disappointments with love, mercy, and compassion.
  3. Joy is found in simplicity. The person who constantly seeks pleasure is driven by a desire to acquire more of whatever provides such pleasure and push away sources of disappointment. Such a person is a slave to his or her cravings. If I want to find joy, I need to strip away my cravings until I am satisfied simply with what is.
  4. Joy is found in gratitude. The practice of gratitude allows me to see the blessings and gifts I have received. Gratitude allows me to recognize the abundant generosity of God. When I practice gratitude, I recognize God's love in all things. And that is true and perfect joy.

Joy is less the goal of the quest, an object like the Holy Grail to possess after years of searching. Rather, joy the way in which one encounters life, finding God in all things.
Going Outside Our Comfort Zones
The quest for joy is not an easy one; we will have to go outside our comfort zones. A recent TED Radio Hour featured several speakers who offered insights on finding comfort in discomfort, which is a sure way to discover joy.
"I often ask myself what is the purpose of our lives and I conclude that life's purpose is to be happy. We have no guarantee what will happen in the future, but we live in hope. That's what keeps us going."

--His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Meditation: Find Joy in All Things

This meditation can help you on your quest for joy.

Slow down your breathing, until it is gentle, smooth, and soft. Let go of any tension in your body by relaxing your jaw, your shoulders, your fingertips, even your toes. Continue until you feel light, fresh, and free.

Read the following Scripture verse slowly, savoring each word: " Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean,  revel  in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them .” (Philippians 4:4-5, The Message)

Reflect on your day. When did you make someone smile or laugh? This can be a close friend, a family member, an acquaintance, or a random encounter. What did you do to make this person smile? What did you notice in this person's smile? How did you experience God in this encounter?

Reflect on your day again. When did you become angry, frustrated, or upset? Try to recognize the source of you anger and frustration within yourself. Were you angry or frustrated because an expectation wasn't met? As you replay this moment of anger and frustration, pay attention to your body. Are your fists clenched? Is your brow furrowed? Relax the part of the body where your anger and frustration are felt most strongly. Take in a few deep breaths as you allow these emotions to pass.

Reflect on your day a third time and identify those things that made you happy. Imagine that thing was taken away from you. Where would you have found happiness then? What if that thing was taken away from you? Keep whittling away until you find the one, basic thing that made you truly happy. Where do you see God in that thing?

Review your day a final time and give thanks for whatever blessings you may have received, no matter how great or small. Why are you grateful for these things? How do they lead you toward God? Take a moment to offer these things back to God with this prayer or one of your own: Lord, thank you for . . . .You have given everything to me. I return it to you; do with it whatever you will. I ask only for your love and grace; that is all that I desire.

Close with the following prayer or one of your own: Lord, you alone are the joy of my spirit. Amen.