Surprised by Joy

Sometimes, we are surprised in life...

We may be surprised by gifts...

Or, by the visit of a loved one we have not seen in a while...

Sometimes we are surprised by the turn of events...

And sometimes, we are surprised by joy...

We might not see it coming...

Sometimes we pray for something, perhaps not really imagining that we will receive it - to which I admonish - be careful what you pray for!

On March 17th, the Feast of St. Patrick, I prayed for a change of heart - and for a clean heart...

I asked to be rid of all that does not serve, like the mythological snakes that were driven out of Ireland...

In the cleansing many things were released, and the process still continues...

Space was created for other things to be received...

And for other things to be...

A new place of indwelling was created within a cleansed heart...

An invitation was sent out - and everything began to be seen and experienced with new eyes, and yes, through a new heart...

This week, a gifted craniosacral therapist confirmed the presence of joy... It had decided to set up shop in my heart, and wanted to take up residence in the rest of my being...

I was reminded of C.S. Lewis' book, "Surprised by Joy," written several lifetimes ago. It never quite spoke to me, though it has brought solace to many...

I read the Pope's homily, forwarded to me by a dear friend, exhorting us to open our hearts so that we not harden it against the gentle knock of joy...

If we open to joy, we begin to see and experience all things anew...

This does not mean that we are blind to the troubles in the world. But we can view them with renewed insight, from another perspective, and it might move us to do something about it...

Indeed... Joy can move mountains. It can make you do something you had no intention of doing. It might open you in ways unexpected and lead you in a direction you did not see coming...

In another homily, read on a day that was a turning point for me, Pope Francis spoke of the need to have the "courage to do great things, and the humility to appreciate little things." It made me realize that courage and humility are in the same fraternity with joy...

In one moment - out of nowhere, your life can change. Joy can take you there...

Open your heart. And you just might be surprised by joy! 

"Delight in the vast play of life...
God is joy
and He created you in joy."
~ Yogananda

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