Today feels like a good day to talk
About Joy.
Every once in a while I read something that takes my breath away. Yesterday I read a beautiful poem called Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves. I encourage you to read it too. It is both beautiful and haunting, about being black in America. It’s a long poem, beautifully written that speaks to the full experience of life. Here is just a small excerpt from the poem…
…
Joy is the flashing blue light
passing by,
not meant for me.
Joy is the good news,
without new dead names,
no chokeholds or murdering knees.
A night of sleep
in your very own bed
without shots in the dark
—no more not waking up,
full of lead.
Joy is the morning jog
without being hunted down
…
— J. Drew Lanham, Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves
And here is another snippet from the poem that spoke to me about the woods that I love…
…
Joy is the last song,
drifting in
as dark curtains fall;
the sparrow’s vesper offering,
whistle lain down
in pine-templed woods,
requiem in me-minor—
church in a cathedral time built.
No stained glass.
No pulpit.
Altars everywhere.
Just listen.
Just look.
…
— J. Drew Lanham, Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves
Reading this beautiful poem about joy, with soaring transcendence and in your face gritty reality makes me cry. Joy is not a Pollyanna, everything is okay ignorance of what is happening in our world. It’s the full gut wrenching truth, the groans of pain, the astonishing grace and beauty, the grief, and the whispered hallelujah.
The Need for Joy
I know we are living in challenging times. But even in challenging times—no, especially in challenging times—joy is as necessary as breathing.
Joy rises from the deep sacred well of the soul. It is soul stuff, part of your essence. And it can hold space with any heavy emotion — grief, pain, anger, fear, regret. I like to think of joy as a kind of both/and feeling. I can be grieving or angry and still find joy in the moment.
You may believe that it is impossible to feel joy in the midst of difficult times. But it is in challenging times when we need the light of joy to help us find our way.
Every day, no matter what else is going on, try to connect with your joy, if only for a moment.
May you walk in beauty.
Note: More photos from my Tuesday walk in Wolsfeld Woods.
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