This
is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that
time,” declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and
write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my
people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one
another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the
least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive
their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Jeremiah
31:33-34(NIV)
that
all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in
you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you
have sent me.
John
17:21(NIV)
I
was browsing among the new books at Barnes & Noble one December
Sunday afternoon and came upon The Book of Joy: ( no, not the Joy of
Cooking) Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with author Douglas Abrams. I
was intrigued and started reading it in January at bedtime each
night, savoring the conversations of these two spiritual leaders.
They met for a week in April 2015 in Dharamsala, India to celebrate
the Dalai Lama’s eightieth birthday and from their conversations,
they desired to write a universal book that included not only their
Christian/Buddhist teachings/experiences with joy, but also research
findings on the science of joy and other qualities that are believed
to be essential for enduring happiness.
Reality
is that we all face difficult circumstances, tragedies, natural
disasters throughout life, we cannot know joy without suffering, and
we make choices about how we respond to suffering. These friends
identified and shared personal obstacles(fear,anxiety,
frustration/anger, grief, despair, loneliness, envy, suffering
/adversity, illness/fear of death) and qualities of the mind and
heart (perspective, humility, humor, acceptance, forgiveness,
gratitude, compassion, generosity) that help us cope with life’s
challenges. Scientists are finding in their research studies that the
choices we make in our hearts and minds during difficult times
directly impact our ability to know joy in the midst of suffering
when tears are shared and we reach out to one another.
The
weavings I see in the scriptures coupled with the perspectives of
these wise souls is that God invites us to live each day in His
peace and joy in community with one another. Yes, I will have
trials/tribulations and will seek healing, but as I learn to emulate
Jesus more each day, I move beyond my self-centeredness to become
more compassionate and generous in our care of humanity.
But
if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from
all sin.
1
John 1:7
Our Father, creator of the
universe and all your children throughout time, thank you for these
scriptures that guide our learning to better understand
suffering/grief and the opportunities you offer us to experience joy
as we learn how to give ourselves away in service with others. Thank
you for letting me see your presence in our daily lives especially
through our ministries at Alcott and with Stephen Ministry. In the
name of your beloved son Jesus and with the presence of the Holy
Spirit within us, thank you, God. Amen.
Barb Linnenbrink
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