Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Joy


I know that I have experienced every human emotion in life, but when I was younger, I was bewildered or overwhelmed by emotions. I didn't know what I was experiencing. Often they were alien or threatening. I didn't know their names or what to do with them.  

Intellectually, I know that Christians are supposed to be joyful, and I have often wondered, where is the joy in my life? But recently, a female friend in the Communion and Liberation movement was talking about joy, and I said,"I don't know what joy is." 

She responded, "I don't know about that." In the week or two afterwards, I found myself wondering about joy, and I realized that she was right. I have experienced joy numerous times. It happens whenever I am touched by something or someone. It happens in the smallest things in life, and it often brings me to tears, much to my embarrassment. It happens when I see grace and meaning in people's lives. Sometimes it renders me speechless, because I know I wouldn't be able to talk without bursting into tears. I have learned that one does not seek joy itself, but rather, joy comes as the fruit of experiencing truth, beauty, goodness. 

Have a joyful day.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

How to be Moral

From School of Community:

"Don't daydream and aim for perfection, but look Christ in the face."

To be moral is to look Christ in the face.

"If one looks someone in the face, everything is straightened out,
everything falls into place..."

"The source of being moral is loving someone, not following laws."

"This can be extremely uncomfortable because you can't follow yourself anymore."