Joy and happiness are not the same thing. I had some challenges this week, and that distinction became really clear to me. Happiness, to most people, is defined as the elation that accompanies good fortune. When things are going well, when the sun is shining, when we get a raise or a new job, when we think we are in love, when we get to hop like a bunny, we FEEL HAPPY, and we confuse that with the Quality of Joy that I am writing about. It’s getting in touch with the stuff that’s already inside us. JOY is
the evidence of God’s presence in the human experience. And God can never NOT be present! We have to learn to look for the evidence. It’s there, sometimes in spite of what is happening in the outer world.
Have you ever cried and felt joy at the same time? I sure know I have. Then you know what I mean. JOY is the awareness that ALL IS GOOD. Even in the midst of this – God is here. This too is God. This too is Good. We can never escape the presence of God. When we begin to see all of life as a perfect reflection of our thoughts and we come to see that life always brings us what we send out, then we cannot help but rejoice in the perfection because we notice that that is exactly what is happening all the time. There’s
a great sense of relief and release. You are really in charge. What you send out comes back.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Catholic Priest and theologian, gives us the second quote: “Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.” I’ve heard it translated – joy is the ECHO of God’s life in us. I like that. I’d like to tell you a story.
A man and his son were taking a walk in the forest. Suddenly his son trips and, feeling a sharp pain, screams, “Ahhhh!” Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, “Ahhhhh!” Filled with curiosity, he screams, “Who are you? But the only answer he receives is “Who are you?” This makes him angry, so he screams, “You are a coward!” and the voice answers, “You are a coward!” He looks at his father, asking, “Dad, what is going on?” “Son”, the man replies,
“Pay attention!” Then the father screams, “I admire you! The voice answers, “I admire you!” The father shouts, “You are wonderful!” And the voice answers, “You are wonderful! The boy is surprised, but still can’t understand what is going on. Then the father explains, “People call this an ‘echo’ but truly it is ‘life’!”
Life always gives you back what you give out. Life is a mirror of your actions and beliefs. If you want more love, give more love. If you want more kindness, give more kindness. If you want understanding and respect, give understanding and respect. This rule of nature applies to every aspect of our lives. Life always gives us back what we give out. Your life is not a coincidence, but a mirror of your own doings.
