Last week I went into the attic to find the decorations for the season. This candle was a gift that has been a household fixture since the children were little. But this time it has brought more joy than ever as we continue to laugh at it, as it sits there on the table. Is it dancing, or is it totally exhausted? It was definitely melted from the heat of the attic and shaped by its cramped position. Like we all are at times.
Jolly and “fine” are not ideal goals, and they are subject to melting in the heat. I look at the world around me, and there is so much suffering – so many are facing heavy challenges. Me too, in my own way. Joy cannot be plastered on. Joy is challenged by relationships that are not going smoothly, by health problems, by grief and mental distress. But the kind of joy that feeds us draws on a deeper well. That joy helps us to laugh in the face of difficulties and keeps us going.
art by lynn