Happiness or Joy?

So there I was yesterday; Sunday morning and sitting in the little simple bush church, three hours north of Sydney. The preacher flicks onto the screen a photo of the victorious All Blacks embracing after Cory Jane’s try. I must say as a Kiwi and die-hard All Blacks supporter that certainly had my attention. The next slide was a photo of the disconsolate Wallabies walking off the field, heads down and arms hanging loosely at their sides.

The point of his sermon was the difference between happiness and joy—and how, even my delight of yet another All Black victory over the hapless Wallabies would fade. Well yes it will—eventually. But point taken—joy and superficial pleasure are two very different things and they are often confused to the detriment of our sense of fulfilment and satisfaction in life.

In the congregation, on this occasion, was a dear old lady who had just celebrated her 90^th birthday. There had been a get-together the previous day in the church hall where friends and family had gathered. She is a true saint this lady. Life though has thrown its fair share of challenges in her direction. Her first born son had died at four months and her husband died at the age of 38. She was left to bring up four children on her own, and in latter years there has been ongoing turmoil in the lives of her children. Yet through it all this dear lady has kept a strong faith in God and a firm commitment that life is meant to be lived for others in a welcoming and loving way. Her family homestead (your classic Aussie farmhouse with a hardwood veranda running right around the entire house) has always been open to any who were in need. So many of the people who had gathered to honour her on her 90^th birthday had enjoyed the welcome and shelter of her care and love.

I have had the privilege of knowing this lady well and have known her since the late 1970’s. She just emanates a sense of joy and peace despite the personal hardships that have come her way. And of course the preacher yesterday did allude to this lady and her life as the perfect example of a life of substance lived with true joy.

For most of us life will be a mix of good times and tough times—God promises that His constancy and loving presence is available for us all yielding a deep joy that is beyond human understanding:

“…in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us…nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD.” (Romans 8:37-39)

 David N Williams
Chaplain