|
A week ago, someone shared a short TED Talk with me from Ingrid Fetell Lee. She was talking about joy and the visual things that bring us joy. Take minute to think about the things that bring you joy. What do they look like? Who are they? Where do you experience them?
We had the privilege of going to the Braves game with Chap's parents on September 22, the day they clinched the National League East spot in the playoffs. There was so much joy all over the stadium from the players and fans. Then the fireworks started, more joy. Not all experiences of joy are this grand. I also experience it when my son gives me a spontaneous hug and says "I love you, Mommy!"
This past Saturday, I experienced joy with our church family at the Fall Fest on our ballfield. Jumping, playing, painting faces, decorating pumpkins, and enjoying time in fellowship together.
Paul's letters brought me two reminders about how we can experience and share joy. The way he talks about how it refreshes our hearts or we are overflowing with hope were powerful images for me to consider.
Philemon 1:7, "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people."
Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Ingrid challenges us by saying, "What we should be doing is embracing joy and putting ourselves in the path of it more often."
So how can you embrace joy today? How can you put yourself in the path of it more often? How can you refresh someone's heart or experience an overflow of hope?
If you're curious to see the whole TED Talk you can find it here: https://www.ted.com/talks/ingrid_fetell_lee_where_joy_hides_and_how_to_find_it
|
