Choosing Joy
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart and mind. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. When I go to my welcome table early in the morning to read, write, and pray, I light a candle as a sign that God is present. I offer this ritual to you today.
Remember that the sun is shining even when we cannot see it – and there are a billion stars likewise shining; there is always light that pervades the gloom.
“The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within reach, is joy, take joy.”
- Fra Giovanni, 1531
“The sun is shining, come on, get happy
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
Shout Hallelujah, come on, get happy
We're going to the promised land”
- “Get Happy”, written by Harold Arlen & Ted Koehler
Nehemiah 8:10
The joy of God is my strength.
Food for Thought
One of the most important discoveries that I have made in my 77 years of life is that joy is a choice. I do not mean this in a passive way, in the way of positive thinking, or the way of pop psychology and pop religion. Joy is a hard choice, but it is a choice.
Paul wrote in at least two letters the command, “Rejoice in all things”. Both times he was in jail. Joy is a choice, a way to face life, even in its sorrow, suffering, and stupidity. There is much fun in life, times in which it may be easy to choose joy. There is also much sorrow, suffering, and stupidity in everyday life, and it can become hard to choose joy in the face of those things. That’s when I think of my grandfather, who did not have a home, who was sick, who was, in worldly terms, a failure. In all of his life he chose joy, and that has made all the difference for me.
I admit that my knowledge of Grandpa Yancey is more a deep impression and what others have told me, more so than memories, though I do have some vivid memories of him – his singing to me at bedtime; walking with my hand in his up Madams Creek Road to the Brooklin Methodist Church; and his funeral at that same church. Grandpa lived with us his last few years of life and I was about six years old when he died.
My strongest impression is that he had a more profound effect on my life than any other person, mainly because he chose joy even in the face of failure, rejection, suffering, and death. I believe that the joy of God was his strength that allowed him to choose joy in his life. I believe joy was chosen because of his faith, which committed him to acknowledge the presence and help of the God who is love. His faith convinced him of a love that was present with him in and through all things, and so he could choose joy no matter what life had handed him. That joy was hope for new life, no matter how old or sick he was. That joy resulted in love for others, regardless of how they treated him.
My impression is that these great qualities of faith, hope, love, and joy were intertwined for Grandpa Yancey. Because he had faith in God, he believed in people, even a little person like me. His hope was not just for himself, but for everything and everyone around him. And love. . . well, my impression is that he believed that I was a unique, special person, one who deserved to be loved, just as he was. My impression is that he chose joy, not only because of me, but certainly because of me.
I love the line in the book of Nehemiah “The joy of God is my strength”. I believe that the joy of God is in people, just like it was in my Grandpa Yancey. God is like the grandparent who says to their child, “You are my pride and joy. You are etched on my heart.” When I think like this, I want to choose joy in my own life and for others. Then, like my Grandpa, the joy of God will be my strength.
“You are a unique, special person, one who deserves to be loved, just as you are!” At some point today, look in the mirror and repeat these words to yourself. Then, make the choice to think this about everyone you encounter today.
Our “Choosing Joy” Journaling Page provides seven daily thoughts of reflection and journaling prompts that tie back into this week’s story. You can print it, forward it to a friend, use it as inspiration for your own journaling practice (or group conversations), or maybe just use it as food for thought in your own quiet time!
For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!
Blessing
God whose joy is in us, may we go from this table choosing joy in every person we meet, knowing that every person is your beloved child.
A little Table Talk for your table...
Discuss with a friend how it is possible to choose joy in the face of failure, rejection, suffering, and death.
In what ways can you identify that “the joy of God is in people”?
Share your thoughts on how your life might be affected – how the world might be affected – if each of us made the intentional effort to choose joy.
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Ask your child what they think it means to “choose joy”.
What brings your kiddo joy?
Take a moment today to reassure your child that they are a unique, special person, one who deserves to be loved, just as they are.
Meet Our Welcoming Voice!
Michael Harvey grew up in what is now the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. He graduated from Berea College with a BA in English in 1967, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1972. He was a pastor in a small rural church in eastern Kentucky and two urban churches in Chicago before becoming the Executive Director of the Conference of Baptist Ministers in Massachusetts. He retired in June 2020, and was named the Executive Director Emeritus. The Conference of Baptist Ministers had a book of his translations, poetry, and writings published in 2020 titled Attempts at Light.
To hear more from Michael throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!
Here are Five Things to Remember When Setting Your Own Welcome Table!